Students Of Immigrant Background Research Articles

‘They speak Arabic to make teachers angry’: High-school teachers’ (de)legitimization of heritage languages in Catalonia

This study explores high-school teachers’ discourse on heritage language use regarding their students of immigrant background in Catalonia, Spain, where both Catalan and Spanish are official languages. For this purpose, 10 high-school teachers from 5 schools with a high ratio of foreign students were interviewed. These interviews were analysed using membership categorization analysis. The results show that the perceived appropriateness of heritage language use depends on whether the students are integrated enough in the eyes of locals. Additionally, heritage language use in public is judged from the perspective of a Catalan listener and is deemed disrespectful. This is particularly salient in students of Moroccan background, where language maintenance is associated with overly strict adherence to Islam. The need for training teachers on how to properly address the linguistic and cultural diversity of their classrooms is discussed.

Towards a school culture of pedagogical fairness: revisiting the academic performance of immigrant children in East Asia

ABSTRACT Educational scholars have argued for fair pedagogical practices in response to the learning needs of diverse students. While pedagogical fairness has been widely advocated, few studies have systematically assessed its impact on student learning, and even fewer have examined pedagogical fairness from a school organisational perspective. To narrow this gap in research, the current study develops an expansive conceptualisation of pedagogical fairness as an integral part of organisational culture, which varies by school. Our data, gathered from 7,746 immigrant-background students attending 563 schools in six East Asian societies, were analysed based on a hierarchical linear model explaining their academic performance as a function of pedagogical fairness in terms of both teacher practice and school culture. The results suggest that fair pedagogy can effectively help immigrant children succeed in school. It is particularly notable that pedagogical unfairness embedded in school culture is negatively associated with the academic performance of immigrant children, even after controlling for unfair pedagogical practices exercised by individual teachers. These findings suggest that implementing fair pedagogy is not simply the responsibility of individual teachers; it is also the responsibility of school leaders, as they are in the position to substantially influence the school as an organisational whole.

Gender and ethnicity's influence on first-year nursing students' educational motivation and career expectations: A cross-sectional study.

AimGiven the apparent link between gender and ethnicity, and the diversity and career opportunities in nursing, this study examined gender and ethnicity's influence on first‐year nursing students' educational motivation and career expectations.DesignCross‐sectional.MethodsThrough bootstrapped linear regressions, we analysed data on 504 Norwegian first‐year nursing students' self‐reported educational motivation and career expectations, from the StudData survey at the Centre for the Study of Professions (SPS) at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet).ResultsThe sample consisted of 67 (13%) male and 437 (87%) female nursing students. Female students were more motivated compared to male students by professional interest and to pursue a specialization, less likely to assume leadership positions in the future, and more likely to prioritize family and pursue positions in the traditional nursing field. In total, 425 (84%) respondents stated a Norwegian background. Respondents who stated that both of their parents were born in a country other than Norway made up the 79 (16%) students of immigrant background. Those with immigrant backgrounds were more motivated than other students by income, status and flexible working hours and less likely to pursue a specialization or future employment in the nursing field.

The Significance of Significant Others: The Perspective of High-Achieving Students of Immigrant Background

The Significance of Significant Others: The Perspective of High-Achieving Students of Immigrant Background

To, Through, and beyond Higher Education: A Literature Review of Multilingual Immigrant Students’ Community College Transitions

ABSTRACT Amidst the growing diverse student population, community colleges are enrolling an increasing number of adult immigrant-background students. However, recent research trends tend to focus on students who enter community colleges from the U.S. K-12 system (Generation 1.5 learners), leaving a significant gap in the research and a lack of cohesion in terminology regarding adult immigrant students who enter into postsecondary education from another path. The objective of this systematic review of the literature is to synthesize research on the transition of adult-arrival immigrants (referred to as Generation 1 learners) from adult ESL to credit-level courses at the community college. Researchers conducted a database search and identified 91 research studies, technical reports, and doctoral dissertations relevant to the transition of Generation 1 Learners through ES(O)L, developmental education, and credit-level courses. Following a thematic analysis of the relevant literature, researchers identified the components of popular models for facilitating Generation 1 transitions, as well as the various placement and assessment policies, and professional development opportunities provided by institutions. Additionally, trends for methodologies and theoretical frameworks used in recent research suggest future directions for study that focus on large-scale or longitudinal research, as well as inter-institutional perspectives. Further analysis of these themes will provide guidance for practitioners and administrators who seek to provide assistance to Generation 1 Learners as they transition through the community college.

From [non] policy to practice: staff’s perspectives on support and services for students of immigrant background in Icelandic universities

ABSTRACT The aim of this qualitative study is to explore how staff at three Icelandic universities attend to the needs of students of immigrant background. The theoretical background includes critical multicultural studies which focus on analysing the position of minority groups in societies and education from a critical perspective [Parekh 2006. Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory. 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave Mcmillan]. Data were collected in interviews with 16 support staff and teachers at three Icelandic universities. Findings indicate that despite the lack of policies, many staff members use their life experience of working, teaching and personal connections with people of diverse background for teaching and for providing support for immigrant students.

Equal but different: Effects of equality/inclusion and cultural pluralism on intergroup outcomes in multiethnic classrooms.

Integrating research on intergroup contact and intercultural relations, we investigated effects of 2 types of cultural diversity norms (equality/inclusion and cultural pluralism) on outgroup orientation and perceived discrimination among students of immigrant and nonimmigrant background. Our sample comprised 1,975 6th graders (Mage = 11.53, SDage = 0.69, 47% female) in Germany, of whom 1,213 (61%) were of immigrant background, defined as having at least 1 parent born in a different country. A total of 83 countries of origin were represented. We applied a multilevel framework to assess the impact of individual-level and class-level predictors on intergroup outcomes, controlling for the classroom ethnic composition, school track, and individual-level covariates. Immigrant background was treated as a moderator. The 2 types of cultural diversity norms were generally associated with more positive intergroup outcomes. Some of the associations differed in strength between students of immigrant and nonimmigrant background. There were stronger associations of equality/inclusion with higher outgroup orientation among students of nonimmigrant background and with lower perceived discrimination among students of immigrant background. Ethnic composition, as well as the classroom-aggregated diversity norms (diversity climate) showed weaker relations with the outcome variables. Equality/inclusion norms and cultural pluralism norms can make complementary contributions to positive relations between students of immigrant and nonimmigrant background. Equality/inclusion norms foster positive contact and equal treatment, while cultural pluralism norms emphasize that it is also important to value diversity.¹ (PsycINFO Database Record