Words for inclusion: research experience and perspectives on the creation of online L2 resources for migrants and refugees in Italy

ABSTRACT

It is widely recognized that language acquisition is one of the key elements that can boost migrants’ and refugees’ social inclusion, although some research has stressed that the mastery of language can be intended as a necessary but not a sufficient condition in the process of integration. This contribution aims at shaping further analysis on the relationship between language learning, migrants’ and refugees’ social inclusion and citizenship through the experience gained by LUMSA University (Italy) research group in two European funded projects: Advenus (Developing online resources for adult refugees) and ReGap (Reducing the Education Gap). After a brief overview of the resources developed by LUMSA in the Advenus project, this paper analyses the implications arisen from the trials with refugees in Italy, stressing the strengths and the weaknesses of the online courses, with a specific focus on the peculiarity of the Italian hosting system where the trials took place. It will then highlight the further developments adopted in the courses for the ReGap project and the challenges that teachers, educators and researchers still have to face when involving refugees (and more in general disadvantaged groups) in learning and e-learning experiences. Finally, implications for a cultural sensitive approach will be discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Online L2 resources
• migrants
• refugees
• Italy
• language learning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Valeria Damiani has a PhD in Education and is full time researcher at LUMSA University in Rome. She was member of the Joint Management Committee of the IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS 2016) and currently of ICCS 2022. She took part in several EU funded projects: LIBE– Supporting Lifelong Learning with Inquiry-based Education; EUStORe - Creating European Standards for Open Education and Open Learning Resources; Advenus - Developing On-line Training Resources for Adult Refugees; Acumen – Career Management Skills: a new literacy for employment and ReGap, Reducing the Education Gap for migrants and refugees.

Notes

1 The participants in these focus groups were refugees attending Italian language classes at the Astalli center. Eight participants were male and two were female. All participants had an age included between 18–30 years old. Their original nationality was varied (Afghanistan, China, Mali, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Iran).

2 All participants in this focus group were volunteers of the Astalli center for refugees and taught Italian language in level A1-A2 classes. Five participants were retired and two of them have worked as teachers. Two out of six participants were males.

3 S.P.R.A.R (Sistema di protezione per richiedenti asilo e rifugiati), a network of projects managed by third sector associations on behalf of local authorities and financed by Italian and European funds.