Welcoming Languages: teaching a ‘refugee language’ to school staff to enact the principle of integration as a two-way process

Abstract

In this article we discuss the outcomes of a project which taught Arabic as a ‘refugee language’ to primary school staff so they could welcome Arabic speaking children and families. The project was grounded in a commitment to social justice and inclusive education practices, and in an understanding of integration as a two-way process. The evaluation shows that teaching Arabic to primary staff had a positive impact on Arabic speaking children and families, on staff’s own practice, and on the wider school community. We list a set of recommendation to expand the languages spoken and taught in educational contexts.