Learning the Language of a New Country: A Ten‐year Study of English Acquisition by South‐East Asian Refugees in Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe University of Toronto Refugee Resettlement Project (RRP) investigated language acquisition over a ten‐year period among a sample of 608 South‐East Asian Refugees in Canada. Two years after arrival, 17 per cent spoke English well, 67 per cent had moderate command of the language, and 16 per cent spoke no English. Ten years later, 32 per cent had good language skills, 60 per cent moderate skills, and 8 per cent still spoke no English. The most rapid improvement occurred during the early years of resettlement. Although demographic characteristics and pre‐immigration achievement were the major factors determining English‐language proficiency during the early years of resettlement, post‐migration opportunities and incentives became increasingly important over time. The results highlight the responsibility receiving countries have to provide opportunities and incentives to facilitate language acquisition by newcomers.