Work Packages

WP1: THE EFFECT OF AGE, LANGUAGE ATTITUDES AND EXPERIENCES ON PROFICIENCY IN THE HOST LANGUAGE

WP1 centers on the micro-level factors affecting Ukrainian refugees’ linguistic integration. In this package, we focus on individual’s attitudes, emotions, their lived experiences and aspirations regarding languages in their repertoire, across three different age groups: children, adolescents and adults. WP1 addresses the following research questions: 

RQ1.1: What attitudes do Ukrainian refugee children, adolescents and adults hold toward the languages in their linguistic repertoires, including the host country’s language, and how are these reflected in their language use patterns?
RQ 1.2: What have been their experiences regarding language education and language services in the host country?

RQ1.3: How do their attitudes and experiences influence their proficiency in the host country’s language? 

To address RQ1.1 and RQ1.2, in-depth interviews will be conducted with Ukrainian refugees across Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Lithuania, focusing on three age groups – primary school children, adolescents, and adults. For RQ1.3, all participants will undergo a semi-structured narrative elicitation using the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (MAIN) in the host language.

WP2: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE TRAINING PRACTICES FOR REFUGEES

WP2 addresses the meso-level factors, examining language training practices targeted at different age groups of Ukrainian refugees in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Estonia.

RQ2.1: What are the linguistic integration practices aimed at Ukrainian refugees of varying ages in Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Lithuania? What are their common features and differences?
RQ2.2: What do refugees, particularly mothers, perceive as positive and negative in these practices?

To address RQ2.1, we will conduct a systematic review of linguistic integration practices, focusing on language training and integration into school systems that have been implemented across the four countries in response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. This review of open sources will be complemented by in-depth interviews with teachers and other stakeholders involved in educational planning at both the municipal and state levels. For RQ2.2, we will conduct a broad online survey of Ukrainian refugees in the four countries, specifically targeting mothers of preschool and school-age children.

WP3: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE POLICIES

WP3 focuses on the macro-level by comparing the language policies and linguistic integration strategies of the four countries, providing a broader understanding of the ideological and structural factors influencing linguistic integration.

RQ3.1 What are the differences and similarities in state-level language policies in Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania?
RQ3.2 How (if at all) were these policies adapted to accommodate the sudden influx of Ukrainian refugees?

To address RQ3.1 and RQ3.2, we will conduct a comparative analysis of policy documents across the four countries, supplementing it with interviews with key policy makers (such as government officials, representatives of immigration and education authorities) in Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania.