Providing English instruction to refugees who will soon be relocating to English-speaking countries is a valuable service…and can also be overwhelming. Individuals with refugee status have typically endured traumatic events and ongoing uncertainty for months or years, which can affect their abilities to learn. They also may not have been able to access education, or may come from oral cultures without writing systems, leaving them with few or no literacy skills, and will be expected to function in societies that rely heavily upon the printed [English] word.
Groups working with refugees need to take time to consider the numerous complex needs of their students, using a well-planned needs assessment to gather information from all of the stakeholders in the community. They should also receive specialized training in working with people who have experienced trauma, as well as in working with individuals with varying degrees of formal education. Furthermore, helpers need to consider the specific needs of their populations of refugee learners, which will vary depending on their backgrounds and where they will finally be relocated.
Interested in teaching English to refugees? Contact me for support in:
- creating and administering a needs assessment
- curriculum outlining and planning
- finding trauma-informed care training programs
- receiving training in working with pre-literate adult learners
- dreaming, planning, researching, and teaching refugee learners
Logos Language Consulting 