Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design
A large number of refugees need to learn a new language in order to transition to, or settle in, a new country. Most refugees have access to smartphones with which they can access mobile language learning tools. However, refugees in different stages of their journeys have different language learning...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Languages |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/4/3/71 |
| _version_ | 1811306923791745024 |
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| author | Victoria Abou-Khalil Samar Helou Brendan Flanagan Niels Pinkwart Hiroaki Ogata |
| author_facet | Victoria Abou-Khalil Samar Helou Brendan Flanagan Niels Pinkwart Hiroaki Ogata |
| author_sort | Victoria Abou-Khalil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A large number of refugees need to learn a new language in order to transition to, or settle in, a new country. Most refugees have access to smartphones with which they can access mobile language learning tools. However, refugees in different stages of their journeys have different language learning needs. Identifying the unique needs of refugees is essential to design language learning tools that support their language learning activities. Through a two-part participatory design study, we identify and compare the tacit and latent language learning needs of two different groups of Syrian refugees: a group in transition in Lebanon, and a group settling in Germany. The Syrian refugees we worked with in Lebanon are studying English to transition to another country with better living conditions. On the other hand, the Syrian refugees we worked with in Germany are trying to learn German to better integrate into German society. Our results show overlapping needs and specific needs for the two groups of refugees. We present our findings and discuss the opportunities and challenges for designing language learning tools to support the language learning activities of refugees. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:55:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3edde18d6b33415bad8647a1ad46f1cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-471X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:55:13Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Languages |
| spelling | doaj.art-3edde18d6b33415bad8647a1ad46f1cd2022-12-22T02:53:19ZengMDPI AGLanguages2226-471X2019-09-01437110.3390/languages4030071languages4030071Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory DesignVictoria Abou-Khalil0Samar Helou1Brendan Flanagan2Niels Pinkwart3Hiroaki Ogata4Department of Social Informatics, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanDepartment of Social Informatics, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanAcademic Center for Computing and Media Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanDepartment of Computer Science, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, GermanyAcademic Center for Computing and Media Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanA large number of refugees need to learn a new language in order to transition to, or settle in, a new country. Most refugees have access to smartphones with which they can access mobile language learning tools. However, refugees in different stages of their journeys have different language learning needs. Identifying the unique needs of refugees is essential to design language learning tools that support their language learning activities. Through a two-part participatory design study, we identify and compare the tacit and latent language learning needs of two different groups of Syrian refugees: a group in transition in Lebanon, and a group settling in Germany. The Syrian refugees we worked with in Lebanon are studying English to transition to another country with better living conditions. On the other hand, the Syrian refugees we worked with in Germany are trying to learn German to better integrate into German society. Our results show overlapping needs and specific needs for the two groups of refugees. We present our findings and discuss the opportunities and challenges for designing language learning tools to support the language learning activities of refugees.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/4/3/71participatory designrefugeeslanguage learningmobile technologiestacit and latent needs |
| spellingShingle | Victoria Abou-Khalil Samar Helou Brendan Flanagan Niels Pinkwart Hiroaki Ogata Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design Languages participatory design refugees language learning mobile technologies tacit and latent needs |
| title | Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design |
| title_full | Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design |
| title_fullStr | Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design |
| title_short | Language Learning Tool for Refugees: Identifying the Language Learning Needs of Syrian Refugees Through Participatory Design |
| title_sort | language learning tool for refugees identifying the language learning needs of syrian refugees through participatory design |
| topic | participatory design refugees language learning mobile technologies tacit and latent needs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/4/3/71 |
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