Belonging and Cultural Insights – The Impact of Informal Language Learning and Social Contact on Integration among Migrant Newcomers

Grossek, Greta Maria (2022) Belonging and Cultural Insights – The Impact of Informal Language Learning and Social Contact on Integration among Migrant Newcomers. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Migrant newcomers are faced with many challenges when adjusting to life in a new host society. Establishing social connections and learning the host language facilitate the complex process of integration. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this thesis investigated the interplay of social contact, informal language learning, and cultural knowledge acquisition in the context of newcomer integration. Our sample consisted of 122 migrant newcomers from diverse cultural backgrounds, participating in an online language buddy program called “Kletsmaatjes” (Dutch for “chat buddies”) that matches each newcomer with a Dutch-speaking volunteer. We examined the relative importance of quantity and quality of contact in relation to newcomers’ cultural learning and sense of belonging to Dutch society. In line with previous research, our results underline the beneficial effects of positive contact (especially self-disclosure and respect) for integration and belonging among migrants and call for further longitudinal investigation of the processes linking intercultural contact and integration. Additionally, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of the most common conversation topics of the buddy dyads and newcomers’ learning areas. Results show that culture and cultural knowledge dominate both conversations and learning effects among newcomers and deserve greater research attention. These insights add to a limited body of research on informal language learning, particularly buddy programs, and, on a larger scale, may guide practitioners and scholars in intervention- and policymaking to foster newcomers’ psychological integration into receiving societies. Keywords: migrant newcomers, integration, informal language learning, buddy program, social connections, quality of contact, self-disclosure, respect, sense of belonging, cultural knowledge

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Hansen, N. and Kuschel, A.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	30 May 2022 08:12
Last Modified:	31 May 2022 08:17
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/484

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