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Impact of factors specific to forced migration on German language acquisition , , Family constellation, health status and housing situation
The Brief Analysis 4|2020 conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees provides an overview of the individual factors specific to forced migration that impact language acquisition for the group of refugees. The Brief Analysis is based on Research Report 33 which was published as Interim Report I for the project entitled "Evaluation of the Integration Courses" (EvIk) in September 2019.
The authors of the Brief Analysis analysed 21 qualitative interviews with integration course participants, representatives of integration course providers and teachers as well as data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP refugee survey carried out in 2016 and 2017 as is to shed light on the possible individual prerequisites likely to have a negative impact on the language acquisition process for the group of refugees.
These unfavourable conditions include socio-economic and family structures, health status and housing situation.
The analyses show that unfavourable conditions specific to forced migration do not apply to all refugees in equal measure or with equal frequency. However, precisely when these unfavourable conditions exist and even more so when they occur cumulatively, they have – depending on the constellation – a significant effect on language acquisition and thus on the entire social participation.
Most important results
Socio-economic structure
Refugees with a higher level of education find it much easier to learn German than refugees with a low level of education. In the case of the latter, the lack of experience with a school system and "learning how to learn", i.e. how to acquire new knowledge in a structured manner, as well as a possible lack of literacy render language acquisition more difficult.
Family structure
In the case of the few refugees who live in Germany separated from their core family, the qualitative interviews show that the separation and accompanying worries about relatives abroad can lead to distraction and a lack of focus during language lessons. Language acquisition is then slower.
Health status
Despite the fact that on average refugees tend to be in good health, vulnerable groups still exist. They face an increased risk, e.g. of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTBS).The qualitative interviews show that these groups have difficulties to learn because their ability to focus is temporarily limited.
Housing situation
Refugees who live in shared accommodation often lack privacy and opportunities to use the German language. Therefore, it makes language acquisition more difficult for refugees living there. By contrast, refugees living in private accommodation are not only more satisfied with their housing situation, but also attest themselves better knowledge of German.
The Brief Analysis was written by: Andreea Baier, Dr. Anna Tissot and Dr. Nina Rother