Kateryna Bryzh

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the major linguistic and adaptation issues faced by Ukrainian immigrant children and youth in Saskatchewan. Total number of 59 participants took part in this study. Among them were 30 children and youth who immigrated to Canada directly from Ukraine, 27 parents of the young immigrants, and 2 teachers who worked closely with Ukrainian immigrant students. The main challenges connected with the level of English proficiency of the immigrant children and youth were explored in the study. The children expressed their concerns and told about their experiences as for their life in Canada in the semi-structured interviews that were transcribed and analyzed for the study. Furthermore, during the statistical analysis of quantitative data collected from the parents questionnaire and the children’s and youth’s English proficiency test, comparison was made between responses of parents who were grouped according to the following demographic characteristics of their children: age, gender, duration of stay in Canada, age upon arrival in Canada, as well as ESL classes attendance, school choice, and level of English proficiency. It was found that the most pressing issue for Ukrainian immigrant children and youth was their limited English proficiency that presented various difficulties in adjusting to Canada. Moreover, such factors as age, gender, choice of school, ESL classes attendance effected the process of second language acquisition and adaptation of the young immigrants.