engleski

Knowledge of English as factor of learning Croatian language and culture among asylum seekers in Croatia

The first part of the paper is a review of historical development of approaches towards migrants, such as assimilation, acculturation, accommodation, inclusion, integration etc. Further, legal and policy framework that regulates procedures for asylum seekers in the Republic of Croatia in the context of the acquis and the Council of Europe instruments is presented. Several subsequent Croatian national migration policies and integration measures are analyzed both in conceptual and practical terms with a view to critically appraise their nature and level of implementation. It is commonly known that these policies, in addition to being uncompleted and lacking some important aspects, have also not been systematically implemented. Institutional bodies in charge of asylum seekers are examined. In the context of a growing possibility that Croatia may no longer be just a transit country, but it might become the country of final destination of migrants, we argue for the need to build a long-term, receptive and well-coordinated system of asylum-seekers’ treatment. In the second part of the paper we present results of our quantitative research on relations between the level of English language competences and the success in acquiring competences of Croatian language and culture among asylum seekers in Croatia. Specific objectives of the research have been to assess an average level of English competences among part of asylum seekers in Croatia, as well as to examine their perception of importance of English in the process of asylum procedures in Croatia, and in the subsequent integration of successful applicants into Croatian society.

English; language competence; asylum-seekers; Croatia; research

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