Migration Research in a Digitized World: Using Innovative Technology to Tackle Methodological Challenges

This open access book explores implications of the digital revolution for migration scholars’ methodological toolkit. New information and communication technologies hold considerable potential to improve the quality of migration research by originating previously non-viable solutions to a myriad of methodological challenges in this field of study. Combining cutting-edge migration scholarship and methodological expertise, the book addresses a range of crucial issues related to both researcher-designed data collections and the secondary use of “big data”, highlighting opportunities as well as challenges and limitations. A valuable source for students and scholars engaged in migration research, the book will also be of keen interest to policymakers

Contextualizing mother-tongue based multilingual education preschools within the Turkmen community of Afghanistan

The Turkmen Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) Preschool program in Afghanistan provided the ideal environment to research how evidence-based MTB-MLE preschool programs can be implemented in a way that aligns with the cultural and linguistic views of the Turkmen people in Afghanistan such that supervisors, teachers, and the community strive to implement and participate in the program to the fullest extent. Data was triangulated by the use of interviews, participant observation, and MTB-MLE preschool monitoring reports. A qualitative research method was used to gain insights into the perceptions and experiences of supervisors, teachers, and the community on the MTB-MLE program. The data were analyzed using a combined (deductive and inductive) coding approach. The study found that the implementation of an evidence-based MTB-MLE program needs to take into account the existing sociocultural ecosystems at the village, language group, national, and international levels. Additionally, the findings revealed that when the existing culturally-perceived responsibilities of the stakeholders are respected, they are able to participate in the program to the fullest extent. Furthermore, new or prescriptive responsibilities are difficult for the community, teachers, and supervisors to accept. The insights provided demonstrate how evidence-based MTB-MLE principles can be contextualized in preschool programs among the Turkmen people of Afghanistan

Migration Research in a Digitized World

This open access book explores implications of the digital revolution for migration scholars’ methodological toolkit. New information and communication technologies hold considerable potential to improve the quality of migration research by originating previously non-viable solutions to a myriad of methodological challenges in this field of study. Combining cutting-edge migration scholarship and methodological expertise, the book addresses a range of crucial issues related to both researcher-designed data collections and the secondary use of “big data”, highlighting opportunities as well as challenges and limitations. A valuable source for students and scholars engaged in migration research, the book will also be of keen interest to policymakers

Communicating Women Empowerment for Socio-Ecological Challenges in a Multi-Lingual Society: Nigeria’s Example

Ecological problems result from deep-seated social ills of the society, vividly illustrated by economic slump, malnutrition, deforestation, air, urban  and oil pollutions, urban violence, water borne diseases, housing problem and insecurity all of which breathe more life into poverty. In most cases, women, a significant segment of the society are the most vulnerable in time of ecological crises. Using secondary data, this study traced women’s vulnerability to the age-long gender discriminatory culture and lopsided political structure which oftentimes place women at a disadvantaged position. With theoretical hindsight, the study discovered that given appropriate motivation and empowerment inform of access to quality education, paid employment, capital assets and land, women could break the web of poverty and record significant victory over socio-ecological adversity. The study observed that to achieve maximum success in women’s capacity building against socio-ecological problems, there must be strategic communication efforts through the various mass media organs to persuade the government to incorporate women empowerment into its policies and programs and also to influence positive belief and discourage negative attitudinal disposition to women among the various ethnic components. This evidently will enthrone a just society where everybody can compete and contribute to the socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Key Words: Communication, Women Empowerment, Socio-ecology, Multilingualis

Migration Research in a Digitized World: Using Innovative Technology to Tackle Methodological Challenges

This book explores implications of the digital revolution for migration scholars' methodological toolkit. New information and communication technologies hold considerable potential to improve the quality of migration research by originating previously non-viable solutions to a myriad of methodological challenges in this field of study. Combining cutting-edge migration scholarship and methodological expertise, the book addresses a range of crucial issues related to both researcher-designed data collections and the secondary use of "big data", highlighting opportunities as well as challenges and limitations. A valuable source for students and scholars engaged in migration research, the book will also be of keen interest to policymakers

Language and the Development of Agriculture in Kenya

Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy. Currently, it contributes 25%1 of Kenya’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Given its relevance, deliberate effort needs to be made to ensure that there is proper investment into this sector; and as this happens, attention should also be given to the issue of language. Currently, not much focus is given to language as an important element in the development of agriculture. This is a contradiction because language plays a central role through its communicative function, without which agricultural involvement cannot take place. This paper investigates the role of language in the development of agriculture in Kenya. The study is based on the premise that communication is key in the agricultural sector mainly because the language that is used to communicate and how the communication is done determine its success. This is an applied theoretical study that delves into the interface between linguistics and agriculture, hence, its interdisciplinary approach. The study was carried out in Uasin Gishu and Trans-nzoia counties in Rift Valley province, Kenya; where a total of 93 respondents were involved. Data was collected using questionnaires and analysis done through categorization and description. Findings show that in many instances, there is breakdown of communication that arises from the inability of the professionals to communicate the acquired knowledge in a language that is understood by the lay public. The study recommends an interdisciplinary approach in the training of graduates in the field of agriculture. This will enable them acquire skills that make them optimally prepared to serve as professionals in their area of specialization. If done, it will reduce inaccessibility to relevant information that has adverse consequences to the economic development of the nation. Keywords: Agriculture, language, communication, development, Kenya

Multilingualism

This book promotes understanding of multilingualism based on the research efforts at the frontiers with state-of-the-art approaches or novel interdisciplinary perspectives. It addresses issues of the impact of multilingualism on cultural awareness and national identity, gives an overview on how multilingual speakers benefit themselves in learning and communicative competence, and describes the association between multilingualism and media, health, and society

Sociocultural dynamics affecting the additional language learning process of Arabic-speaking adult refugees in Australian learning settings

This qualitative research study has examined the English Language Learning (ELL) experiences of Arabic-speaking adult refugees to identify the nature of sociocultural dynamics that influence their additional language learning (ALL) in the Australian context. It highlights the positive and negative aspects experienced by former adult refugees when learning the target language (TL) in their attempts to settle in the host country. ALL research (traditionally known as second language acquisition or SLA) acknowledges the role of social factors in learning the TL but it has not yet constructed a framework that groups these social and cultural factors together and explains the relationship between these factors and the ALL process. This study is important because it focuses on the role of sociocultural dynamics in ALL as it is perceived by adult refugee additional language (AL) learners who are already at disadvantage because of the forced and unstable nature of their migration (Reid & Al Khalil, 2013). Hence, the study produces new ways of looking at the sociocultural forces and conditions affecting ALL to inform those involved in the ALL process and assist rethinking the nature of ALL and ways in which to enhance the learning process. Language is not only a means of communication, as it was approached by traditional theories (Ellis, 1994), but also a shared social practice that people use on a daily basis in order to exchange meaning, solve problems and meet their changing social needs. One of the main methodological gaps in ALL research is the absence of the personal views of AL learners on their own language learning experiences. Personal perspectives are valuable tools, which can provide important and rich insights about the nature of ALL (Miller, 1999, 2000). Therefore, this study employed a qualitative narrative inquiry through the use of written biographies and semi-structured interviews in eliciting participants’ perceptions of their ALL experiences (Hopkins, 2009). These narratives of refugee settlement, ELL and social integration reproduce former refugees as human agents with multiple identities (Reid & Al Khalil, 2013). By using content analysis and Discourse analysis, three broad clusters of sociocultural dynamics were conceptualised. These findings suggest that social interaction opportunities, cultural capital and identities influence ALL, based on the understanding that language learning is culturally embedded and a socially mediated process (Lantolf, 2000, pp. 79-80). The findings also indicate that the nature and impact of sociocultural dynamics differ between different AL learners because learners have different learning experiences shaped by different social, cultural and historical contexts. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of social interaction, learner identities and cultural capital is central to ALL

The evaluation of pharmaceutical pictograms in a low-literate South African population

An inability to read and understand written medication instructions may be a major contributory factor to non-compliance in certain patient populations, particularly in countries with a high illiteracy rate such as South Africa. Twenty three pictograms from the USP-DI and a corresponding set of 23 locally developed, culturally sensitive pictograms for conveying medication instructions were evaluated in 46 Xhosa respondents who had attended school for a maximum of 7 years. Respondents were tested for their interpretation of all 46 pictograms at the first interview and again 3 weeks later. The correct meaning of each pictogram was explained at the end of the first interview. Preference for either the Local or USP pictograms was determined. At the follow-up interview, 20 of the Local pictograms complied with the ANSI criterion of ≥85% comprehension, compared with 11 of the USP pictograms. Respondents indicated an overwhelming preference for the Local pictograms