Refugees make a new life in Sweden

Click on the embedded link above to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

This article is about how Sweden is helping refugees adjust to life in a new country. Word count: 743

Before reading:

      

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Sweden on a map? How about Syria?
• What is a 'refugee'?
• Why has there been a lot of news and discussion about refugees recently? What have you heard?

            

Speculate:

• When a refugee arrives in a new country, what are some of the most important things they might need to learn first?
• This article describes some of the things the Swedish government is doing to help refugees integrate into society quickly. What do you think are the advantages of this? Why is this important?

       

After reading:

       

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What are the advantages of having immigrants like Mohammad Abdualamir teach the classes for refugees? Could there be any disadvantages? What kind of person would make a good teacher for immigrants?
• The article says that Sweden is a "haven" for refugees and that last year it accepted "the most [refugees] per capita of any European country". What does this suggest about Swedish culture or values?
• The article also says that Sweden's anti-immigration party is gaining support because some people "see their country changing". What kind of changes might they be worried about?
• One of the problems mentioned in the article is that Swedish and refugee students don't seem to be mixing in the cafeteria. How do you think the school can encourage the students to get to know one another?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

     

Reflect and evaluate:

• This article concentrates on ways that the government is helping refugees learn to live in Sweden, but what do you think the government could do to educate Swedish people about the refugees who are arriving?
• What are some ways that a country can change when it experiences an influx of immigrants?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

      

Beyond the page

• Do some research to find out more about refugees in your part of the world. Are there many refugees living in your country? Where are they from? Does your country offer services for them?
• Follow this link to see some infographics illustrating the refugee crisis: Refugee Crisis in Europe Explained through Infographics.

       

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!