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The Key to Integration? A Study of Language as a Policy Strategy for Social Integration of Immigrants in Sweden

Xhelili, Laureta LU (2014) WPMM40 20141
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The objectives of the Swedish integration policy are for everyone in Sweden to enjoy equal rights, obligations, and opportunities. The main focus of the policy is on early and individual efforts in language learning so that people who come to Sweden can get a job and live independently. This thesis addresses this issue by seeking to identify and analyze the challenges of integration in Sweden and specifically understand how language learning as a policy strategy helps in the social integration of immigrants into Swedish society. Four dimensions of social integration theory are acknowledged as the central components of successful integration: structural, cultural, interactive, and identificational. The research draws on qualitative data,... (More)
The objectives of the Swedish integration policy are for everyone in Sweden to enjoy equal rights, obligations, and opportunities. The main focus of the policy is on early and individual efforts in language learning so that people who come to Sweden can get a job and live independently. This thesis addresses this issue by seeking to identify and analyze the challenges of integration in Sweden and specifically understand how language learning as a policy strategy helps in the social integration of immigrants into Swedish society. Four dimensions of social integration theory are acknowledged as the central components of successful integration: structural, cultural, interactive, and identificational. The research draws on qualitative data, namely, interviews, autoethnographic study, and document analysis. The results show that the language policy has not been as effective as anticipated because opportunities to use the language skills in practice and achieve positive interaction between different groups in society are scarce. Moreover, ongoing discrimination, especially in the labor market, restricts immigrants from fully participating in everyday life. Without positive interaction and active participation, language learning and integration in general cannot be successful. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Xhelili, Laureta LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM40 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Integration, Sweden, policy, Sfi, language learning, immigration.
language
English
id
4448217
date added to LUP
2014-07-07 14:43:06
date last changed
2014-07-07 14:43:06
@misc{4448217,
  abstract     = {{The objectives of the Swedish integration policy are for everyone in Sweden to enjoy equal rights, obligations, and opportunities. The main focus of the policy is on early and individual efforts in language learning so that people who come to Sweden can get a job and live independently. This thesis addresses this issue by seeking to identify and analyze the challenges of integration in Sweden and specifically understand how language learning as a policy strategy helps in the social integration of immigrants into Swedish society. Four dimensions of social integration theory are acknowledged as the central components of successful integration: structural, cultural, interactive, and identificational. The research draws on qualitative data, namely, interviews, autoethnographic study, and document analysis. The results show that the language policy has not been as effective as anticipated because opportunities to use the language skills in practice and achieve positive interaction between different groups in society are scarce. Moreover, ongoing discrimination, especially in the labor market, restricts immigrants from fully participating in everyday life. Without positive interaction and active participation, language learning and integration in general cannot be successful.}},
  author       = {{Xhelili, Laureta}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Key to Integration? A Study of Language as a Policy Strategy for Social Integration of Immigrants in Sweden}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}