Counter-effect of Refugee Movement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms

Abstract

The presence of refugee students in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms relatively influences thedevelopment of local students as well. Students with different languages and cultural background in a learningenvironment create a different atmosphere and may influence the attitude of local students to other languages andcultures. Therefore, this study investigated how and to what extent native students were influenced from refugeestudents in terms of linguistic and cultural perspective. The mixed method was used in this study. Quantitative datawere collected from local students in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms through a questionnaire andqualitative data were collected from teachers teaching in these classrooms by means of interviews. The results of thestudy revealed that there were remarkable positive effects of the integration process on both sides though variousproblems emerged in diverse classrooms. The findings of this research may also (delete) give implications about theinfluence of refugee movement for other cultures.