An Eritrean refugee in Germany said, “I learned a lot about grammar in the integration course. But here I lost my fear of speaking.” The growing participator approach can be a wonderful tool to support newcomers to your community to participate in the new world that they’re experiencing. Growing participation is about forming more and deeper relationships with those around us, which is often a great need for refugees and immigrants.
“ Refugees without much previous schooling can face particular struggles in these traditional language classrooms”
Formal language lessons can help prepare new arrivals to do these things, but oftentimes they’re not enough or may not be available. Also, refugees without much previous schooling can face particular struggles in these traditional language classrooms, but GPA let's their strengths shine through.
Today we’re sharing with you two different sets of lessons that derive much of their inspiration from the phase guide for Phase 1, The First 100 Hours. The first set were developed to support refugees in Germany (link in German). The second set of lesson are in English and were also developed with refugees in mind. They are for newcomers in both British and American contexts.
With these materials, volunteers with limited training can support newcomers, including those with limited formal schooling, as they learn to communicate and form relationships in a new place.
Let us know below if you’ve tried them or if you have any questions.
Edit: A new set of lessons has been developed to assist refugees and newcomers in Francophone communities. (Link in French)