Linguistic Assessment and Interventions for Children in Movement (LAICIM)

LAICIM is a collaborative project that aims to provide an opportunity for young people who are refugees and immigrants in Northern Ireland (children in movement), to experience a rich English language learning environment through targeted language assessment and intervention.

Outline of Activity

To assess the language levels of unaccompanied minors/refugee young people who have recently arrived in Northern Ireland. To develop and carry out appropriate language intervention activities based on language assessment, to target and progress the accuracy of the participants’ English language skills in terms of vocabulary, morphology and sentence structures. To assess the progress of participants’ English language skills over the course of the programme.

Learning Outcomes

Experience in assessment in terms of language abilities of multilinguals (young people with English an additional language). This will include transcribing and analysing linguistic features using both standardised, experimental and informal language assessment tasks. Experience in devising language intervention strategies to develop the English language skills of young people with English an additional language based on areas of language need. The development of an awareness of the impact of cross linguistic influence from the first language on second language acquisition. The development of professional skills including time management (ensuring attendance at meetings and scheduled sessions, and that work is completed in timely manner), liaising professionally with colleagues both inside and outside the university, ensuring feedback is given to supervisor after sessions, and respecting the diversity of participants and colleagues.

Assessment Details

A written or video log describing the project, what was carried out and why, and the impact these activities had on the young people involved.

Level of Commitment

20-24 hours.

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