Qualitative research, mainly focussed on regeneration areas in Aberdeen City and Shire, and among Syrian New Scots, highlights challenges in accessing English classes, as well as barriers that arise when English learning has stalled. A key issue is the necessity to adapt certain aspects of language classes to facilitate access and improve the learning process.
The evidence above highlights the importance of English language learning for successful integration. As in previous sections the broader, region-wide data does not highlight disparities between Grampian and the rest of Scotland, though recent figures show a considerable increase in pupils across Grampian whose main home language was not English.
The qualitative research, mainly focussed in regeneration areas in Aberdeen City and Shire, and among Syrian New Scots, highlights challenges of accessing English classes, as well as barriers that arise when English learning has stalled. A key issue is the necessity to adapt certain aspects of language classes to facilitate access and improve the learning process, and though the project Home-Hame-Дом-Dom (see summary on page 34) was not focused in improving language proficiency, some of the adaptations implemented (e.g. practical activities and informal methods such as images and videos) were positively evaluated, reinforcing this argument.
Priorities
- Gain an understanding of how English language provision is working, particularly in areas with high levels of ethnic minorities working in low-skilled jobs (where English proficiency is often not crucial), and consider whether changes in approach are required.
- Learn from best practice in other parts of Scotland in terms of English learning and integration initiatives.