Overcoming language barriers: lessons learnt from migrant children

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Date
2017
Authors
Yu, Ke
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
In this paper, we identify reasons for the high school achievement of some migrant children, in spite of the language barriers faced by themselves and their parents. We explore the literature to determine the factors used to overcome such barriers, particularly those beyond social economic status (SES) and other largely inherited factors that remain a common focus of migration and school effectiveness literature. We identify the need to pay greater attention to non-conventional factors, such as aspirations, expectations and creativities. We also examine school effectiveness literature in South Africa, arguably a typical case of a developing country, and note that much of the literature centres on analysis and lamentation of physical and human resource constraints, instead of experimenting on non-conventional factors.
Description
Keywords
Aspirations, Language barriers, Non-conventional factors for school achievement, Motivation, Parent involvement, School success of migrant children
Citation
Yu, K., & Shandu, B. 2017. Overcoming language barriers: lessons learnt from migrant children. Perspectives in Education, 35(1), 157-170.