Chapter 2

Home and Host Language Acquisition for Newcomers

Through studies conducted with university partners, QFI has contributed to greater learning outcomes for teenage newcomer students, not only improving their Arabic and English skills but also their sense of belonging in their local communities.

  • All 17 participants of the “Language Enrichment for ARabic-speaking adolesceNts in Schools” (LEARNS) program reported inspiring outcomes.
  • The “Study of Adolescent Lives after Migration to America” (SALaM(A)) project expanded from the US to Ireland.
  • The QFI-supported “Inclusive and Sustainable Promising Practices in Refugee Education” (InSPPiRE) study presented 29 case studies from 12 countries.
  • QFI brought together 25 teachers, administrators, academics, and experts at the Comparative International Education Society (CIES) Western Regional Conference hosted by the University of San Francisco.

SALaM(A)

Embedding theory into practical application

The Research and Evidence Department’s value in generating actionable insights and recommendations through its commissioned research can already be seen in pivotal projects such as the five-year “Study of Adolescent Lives after Migration to America” (SALaM(A)), led by researchers from Washington University in St. Louis.

The initial study offered crucial insights into the experiences of Arabic-speaking adolescents to inform best practices for integrating students into schools in the United States. Subsequently, researchers from Maynooth University joined the SALaM(A) team to implement SALaM-Ireland, which offered additional insights, due to the increasing number of Arabic-speaking (primarily Syrian) students attending Irish schools.

As SALaM(A) concludes in 2023, the recommendations’ long-lasting implications remain as QFI continues to disseminate its findings to schools and other critical stakeholders on how to best integrate students from the Arabic-speaking world into local communities.

Read: SALaM(A): the Transition of Research into Practical Application With a Real-World Impact

LEARNS Program

Enriching teenagers’ language learning

Drawing from the findings from both SALaM(A) and SALaM-Ireland, QFI and Maynooth worked with one of the participating SALaM-Ireland schools to pilot the “Language Enrichment for ARabic-speaking adolesceNts in Schools” (LEARNS) program in the summer of 2023. The two-week program centered on key findings, such as the importance of peer- mentor groups for newcomers (including adults that may come from similar backgrounds) and giving multiple opportunities for language acquisition in both home and host languages to bolster self-identity and facilitate language proficiency.

The pilot program’s impact was inspiring: All 17 students participating in the program enhanced their academic readiness and confidence, reaffirmed pride in their heritage, had more hope for their futures, and improved their Arabic and English. In addition, the participating school decided immediately to host a similar program during the summer of 2024 to for more students as well as hire an Arabic teacher during the regular term to continue providing home language instruction alongside the host language.

Watch: #SpeakArabic in Ireland

InSPPiRE Case Studies

Highlighting best practices for newcomer students in high-income countries

Further echoing key findings from SALaM(A)/SALaM-Ireland, the “Inclusive and Sustainable Promising Practices in Refugee Education” (InSPPiRE) study highlighted successful practices for educating newcomer students in high-income countries. QFI supported the study, which analyzed 29 case studies (including SALaM(A)) from 12 countries to identify best practices in refugee education in high- income countries.

Read: Best school-based practices for refugees in high-income countries

CIESxSALaM(A)

Strengthening research through partnerships

Displaying the noteworthy reach and impact of partnered research, QFI presented SALaM(A), LEARNS, and InSPPiRE at the University of San Francisco’s Comparative International Education Society (CIES) Western Regional Conference. Celebrating five years of research, QFI brought together 25 teachers, administrators, academics, and experts to share the impact of this research and network with each other and other attendees.

Explore the CIES Western Regional Conference Program

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