The role of learning Turkish as a second language in the integration of refugee and migrant middle schoolers in Istanbul

This study aimed to examine how learning Turkish as a second language affects the integration of refugee and migrant middle school students in a district on the European side of Istanbul with a large number of refugees and immigrants living in it. The research was conducted in a qualitative design. The sample of the study was 24 refugee and migrant students between 12-14 with two psychological counselors in two schools. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the refugee and migrant students and the counselors themselves. While analyzing the data, one of the methods of thematic analysis was used, namely content analysis. . The results showed that language learning plays an essential role in integrating migrant and refugee students. Still, the willingness to learn the language differs depending on whether the students attend a public or private school. Migrant and refugee students who have lived in Turkey for a long time and have learned the language are almost integrated and do not encounter problems, unlike those who have just arrived in Turkey and do not know the language. It was observed that learning the language helped the students to improve their academic performance and participation in class, it allowed them to understand the teachers and integrate into the school. Also,it helped them to communicate with their Turkish friends. Not all students who attend the private school see that learning the Turkish language will help them integrate into the school because the instruction is in Arabic and their friends are Arabs. The results also showed that learning the language is not the only factor in integration. Counselors agreed that understanding the Turkish culture will also help them integrate. Also, it showed that the students' willingness to integrate affects their integration