In the teaching of L2 Italian in secondary school. A case study

The flow of migrants towards Italy in these past decades has raised the problem regarding the absorption and integration of newcomers in the new society and the labour market; this problem has become more severe in this last period. Learning the language and the foundations of the social and political structures of the receiving community is the best way to establish the necessary competence for integration. As the presence of foreigners in Italy stabilises, education has become more complex, as it must be oriented not only towards newcomer students, but also towards those who were born in Italy in foreign families who speak their own mother tongue at home but are also highly competent in Italian. this situation gives rise to diverse individual profiles according to the different balance of the linguistic varieties in these students’ inventory. this article aims to show that an inspection carried according to the sociolinguistic methodology can bring forth valuable data for educational as well as territorial planning and for the definition of policies for integration. the article will present general data on the Italian situation compared to the european one in general in order to define the phenomenon. then a specific study will be presented based on research conducted in the Scuola Cavour in Alessandria (PISU project - POR FeSR 2014/2010), where there are classes in which foreigners and second-generation Italians (G2s) are numerous. A sociolinguistic questionnaire has been collected from students between the ages of 11 and 13 years old; the aim is to assess not only the students’ competences tout court, but also the social spaces where their different languages are used, their main difficulties, and their ambitions. the statistical data are presented and discussed in order to point out the different profiles; they reveal how complex it is to create a linguistic education that moves towards aware citizenship. Practically, the data also provide an important indication on the composition of the classroom and on the educational practices to adopt.

Tekst dotyczy możliwości komunikacji międzykulturowej, jakie dają współczesne media cyfrowe. Analizuje możliwości jej rozwoju na przykładzie problemu masowej migracji do Europy. Dotyczy ona krajów, które są często dużo słabiej ekonomicznie rozwinięte niż kraje Europy czy Ameryki. Jak pokazują jednak dane dotyczące rozwoju technologii w tych krajach czy jej wykorzystania (np. w masowych ruchach społecznych z przełomu pierwszej i drugiej dekady XXI w.), obywatele tych krajów nie są „cyfrowymi analfabetami”. Podobnie jest z migrantami przybywającymi z tych krajów. Dlatego media cyfrowe, a szczególnie takie narzędzia jak smartfony, mogą być wykorzystane w międzykulturowym dialogu oraz pomocy migrantom na różnych etapach ich migracyjnej wędrówki. Dotyczy to zwłaszcza etapu podejmowania decyzji, wędrówki do wybranego kraju czy aklimatyzacji w kraju docelowym. Powstało szereg takich pomocy (przede wszystkim aplikacji na smartfony), które jednak nie dotyczą w równym stopniu wszystkich trzech etapów życia migranta.

The dual vocational education system in Germany is recognised as a model worldwide. The second decade of the 21st century is unfolding under the visible effects of the technological revolution, social changes and intensified migration flows. Difficulties in filling vacant working places, the need to intensify professional orientation, closer cooperation among schools influence the development of new solutions for the system. In relation to the Polish vocational education reform, such paradigms as employer and school, student and master, vocational orientation, professional integration of migrants acquire new meanings. The current problems of the German dual system and its possible solutions become a reference for the current discussion on young people’s vocational education in Poland.

In recent years, especially since 2014, we have observed an unprecedented increase in the number of migrants in Poland, which is also reflected in the school community. Every year the number of migrant students grows, and with it the challenges faced by Polish schools. One of the responses of Polish legislation to these difficulties are intercultural assistants who, working in schools, support migrant students, their parents and teachers. They are also a kind of bridge connecting the Polish and migrant communities. In this article, I refer to the concept of intercultural opening, which is about building inclusive communities and institutions (including schools) for everyone, regardless of origin, nationality or language of communication. The aim of this article is to present the concept of intercultural opening as one of the antidotes to the challenges of the increasing number of migrants and cultural diversity, and the role of intercultural assistants in the process of intercultural school opening. In the first part of the article, I present the situation of migrant children in Polish schools. I refer to the statistical data and the legal framework which determine the education system of migrant children in Poland. The second part contains the concept of an intercultural opening of the school and its characteristic features, while the third one presents the role and tasks of an intercultural assistant in the process of intercultural opening of the school. The last part of the article is a summary.

Migration as a weapon sounds like a policy statement by resurgent nationalistic parties (and governments) in the West. However, politics and the human cost aside, what if an adversary (both state and non-state actor) does exploit the current global crisis of mass migration due to globalization, war, and political unrest? This article will look at the ongoing mass migration to the European Union within the wider security context of the so-called hybrid threats and/or ‘grey zone’ tactics. It looks at the various legal categories of migration as how the law can be weaponized as so-called ‘lawfare’ to undermine the existing legal frameworks distinguishing between legal and illegal migration. The authors recognize the possibility that this article will be used as an argument by the political actors involved for their nationalistic and anti-migration politics and policies. Yet, we believe that the potential of abusing the current vacuum for political gains along ideological party lines makes it necessary to provide a wider legal-security focused perspective on mass migration.

Cooperation in the South Pacific region is unique due to the characteristics of its participants. Following the period of decolonization (1962-1980), countries in Oceania have radically changed. Achieving independence gave those nations international legal personality, yet complete independence from their former colonial powers. The following consequence was gaining an opportunity to draft, adopt and execute own laws in national and foreign policy. PICT (Pacific island countries and territories) have been expanding connections, political and trade ones, within the region since the 1960s when permanent migration of islanders and intra-regional transactions began. Migrations along with foreign aid are considered as the distinctive characteristics of the Pacific Ocean basin. Since the 1980s, the regional integration in Oceania, through establishing regional groupings and increasing the regional trade agreements number, took on pace and scope. The MIRAB synthetic measure (migration, remittances, aid, bureaucracy) has been used in analyzing the Oceania developing microeconomies. Last but not least, migration and foreign aid have been retaining the region from a deeper and more effective stage of regionalism.

Multidimensionality of migration as a research phenomenon

Acting in the area of migration, research interest of many scientific disciplines are the subject of interdisciplinary research, as well as gathered in a circle one discipline. The complexity of the concept of migration results in many ways of its classification; often diverse perspective to look at the processes of displacement reveals the complex nature of the criteria for classification, although sometimes it turns out that they do not cover all the ways of perceiving and analyzing. Migration as a social phenomenon have been and is shaped by diverse conglomeration of contemporary factors and conditions.

The article presents contemporary views on a new approach to children studies in social sciences and humanities, and particularly the “whole child approach” paradigm. The basic features of this approach are discussed in the context of integrating children from a migration background and their social functioning within the structure of education. A brief discussion on the necessary structural changes in social life and its adjustment to the needs of children is provided. The whole child approach is promoted as a key element of social cohesion strategies.

Globally, sociocultural component of social relations weaves into shades of interactions including one existing between Farmers-Herders in their agricultural engagements to generate value that strengthens national integration. Migration pattern and choice expose migrant’s cross-cultural contact without insulating both sides from conflict which however, is a social fact and reality of all social relations. Drawing from the foregoing, the study argues that there is conflict of culturally derived identity interest among returning and settler’s migrants in first contact like in the case of Farmers-Herders, however, is largely a major conflicts driver that endangers sense of patriotism needed for national integration. It further argues that interest quest enables national consciousness and cultural chauvinism and that determines access and denial. However, while a lot of researches have gone into Farmers-Herders contact and conflicts, little of the sociocultural context of their interactions is known in northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Hence, the focus of this study is to examine the sociocultural perspective of farmers-herders conflict as a challenge to national integration. Using Frustration-Aggression theory as framework, the exploratory research adopted qualitative approach to gather data via the conduct of 18 in-depth and 18 key informant interviews on purposively selected respondents two each from the 18 senatorial zones of six states in in North East Nigeria.

Atrakcyjność i aktualność badań prowadzonych wokół życia rodzinnego związana jest z dynamicznymi przemianami społeczno-kulturowymi, gospodarczymi, a także politycznymi zachodzącymi w skali globalnej. Nie bez znaczenia dla funkcjonowania rodziny i jej członków jest również sytuacja światowej pandemii, która znacząco wpłynęła na strukturę rodziny oraz potrzeby i wartości cenione przez jej członków. Żywotność tematu skłania do refleksji nad kondycją współczesnej rodziny i rodzi potrzebę poznania skutków oddziaływań zewnętrznych na jej kształt i środowisko wewnętrzne. W zaprezentowanym opracowaniu podejmuję rozważania wokół problematyki rodziny, interesują mnie przede wszystkim małżeństwa mieszane, które stają się coraz bardziej widoczne, nie tylko w statystykach zawieranych małżeństw, a przede wszystkim w życiu społecznym. Zawiązywanie małżeństw mieszanych znajduje swoje uzasadnienie w zwiększonej mobilności społecznej, pozbawieniu barier świata komunikacji interpersonalnej (powszechne wykorzystanie nowoczesnych technologii w życiu zawodowym oraz osobistym), może również wynikać z indywidualnych potrzeb i preferencji osób zawierających takie związki małżeńskie. Małżeństwo mieszane samo w sobie może być wartością, jednak fakt bycia w takim związku może stanowić swego rodzaju balast. Zaprezentowane opracowanie jest próbą uchwycenia pewnych tendencji zachodzących w doświadczeniach życia społecznego przez małżeństwa mieszane. W artykule wyróżniam trzy części, w których kolejno wprowadzam w problematykę życia rodzinnego i funkcjonowania małżeństw mieszanych, następnie analizuję dane i materiały, nakreślając pewne tendencje odnoszące się do różnych aspektów życia rodzinnego i życia w społeczeństwie. Opracowanie kończę podsumowaniem i wskazaniem wniosków.

Migration in the teaching of the Catholic Church

The phenomenon of migrating the population – migration of people (Latin: migratio) has been known since time immemorial. Its purpose is to change the place of stay of an individual or group. Displacements are historical, cultural, social, political, but also religious. The purpose of migration is to change the place of residence for various reasons, including for economic, political and social reasons. The Word of God states that “the earth belongs to me, and you are the strangers and settlers with Me” (Lev 25:23). The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Lumen Gentium (n. 9) teaches that “this people, though it does not currently include all people, and sometimes even turns out to be a small flock, is after all a powerful germ of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race”. Also today, the Church, in response to the current international – political and economic migration situation, takes a stand in this matter. The article presents the issue of migration in teaching the Catholic Church also as a social problem. The author, striving for maximum reliability and showing the merits of the issue, considered the analytical method to undertake analytical and critical research of sources, referring to conciliar teaching and statements by Pope John Paul II and his successors on migration, emphasizing the moral and social aspect of this phenomenon.

Migration policy of Poland towards European migration crisis

The state policy is a derivative of many factors, both internal and external. It is implemented through appropriate activities in various fields of its functioning. From 2015, there has been a revival of the debate over migration issues that are the result of the humanitarian crisis that Europe has been struggling with. According to data from the International Organization for Migration, the number of people seeking a refuge or a better life in Europe has increased fourfold in one year. This situation has forced action by the European Union and individual states aimed at limiting the scale of illegal immigration. The aim of the article is to analyze Poland’s migration policy in the context of actions taken by EU institutions. The first part of the work contains theoretical considerations regarding migration policy. In the second one, the author presented attempts to solve the migration crisis by the European Union together with the attitudes of Polish governments towards immigrants and the issue of their relocation. The article presents the changes that have been made in the Polish legal and institutional system. The undertaken analysis indicates that in the migration policy, which is largely reactionary in nature, the chief value is safety.

Polish migrants in the United Kingdom in the face of the upcoming Brexit

The main aim of the article is to present the situation of Polish migrants in the United Kingdom in the face of regulations related to Brexit. The main research is focused on the Polish community, its features and structure. The author analyzed new living conditions of Poles in Great Britain. Poles are concerned about the change in the economic and political situation. The functioning in a multicultural country, the continuous process of acquiring a foreign reality, seeking a balance between established values, customs and traditions, and finding a new home – fills them with fear and anxiety.

Fight against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in South-East Europe by SELEC

Human trafficking is one of the modern forms of slavery and the most dangerous crime against freedom and human dignity. This practice is often associated with the phenomenon of illegal migration and smuggling of migrants, which are particularly intensified in the period of various types of conflicts (armed, ethnic, etc.). The international scale of the problem forces the cooperation of authorities and services responsible for security and public order in many countries. The article presents activities undertaken by the SELEC organization in combating this type of international organized crime in South-Eastern Europe. The source of the data are annual reports on the organization’s activities, published on its official website.

The article analyzes the ethno-demographic policy of the CPSU – CPU of the 60’s – 70’s of the twentieth century, which was guided by the priority of national unity of the entire Soviet people and neglected the value of the Ukrainian ethnic group and its national development. The state command-administrative system under the slogans of “proletarian internationalism”, “prosperity and rapprochement of nations in the USSR”, “formation of a new historical community – the Soviet people” pursued a policy of assimilation of the titular nation of the Ukrainian SSR. Demographic, economic and social processes that took place in the society of that time, especially decreased in some regions of the republic the number of indigenous peoples. The correlation of macro-processes (intra-republican and inter-republican migration) with internal micro-processes in Ukraine (enhanced russification, interethnic marriages, etc.) promoted assimilation, depopulation of Ukrainians and threatened their national future. The paper finds that in the conflict of unfavorable circumstances resulting from the Soviet assimilation policy, the number of the Ukrainian nation in the USSR slowed down, difficult, but did not grow in both quantitative and qualitative terms.

Participation of Polish People Living Abroad in the Activities of Polish Minority Organisations

Within a wealth of literature on the subject of the social and political participation of immigrants little has been said about the issue of the mount of immigrants’ engagement in immigrant organizations and its conditions. This paper, based on analysis of CAWI survey of 3500 Polish immigrants describes participations of Poles abroad in Polish immigrant organizations. It also defines three sets of factors determining the amount of engagement. The analysis of empirical data shows that the engagement of Poles abroad in activities of Polish immigrant organizations is limited. Hypotheses concerning factors determining participation in Polish immigrant organizations has been positively verified. Both previous experience of social participation in Poland as well as contemporary experience in country of residence positively influence engagement in Polish immigrant organizations. Also the relation between the country of residence, length of stay, as well as the year of with the level of activity in Polish immigrant organizations emigration has been observed. The participation in those organizations tends also to be influenced by such characteristics of a migrant like: age, size of the locality in which a migrant lives after migration, and type of professional activity. Only two of the assumed variables: size of the origin locality and material situation have not been related to participations of Poles abroad in Polish immigrant organizations.

Refugees of the 21st Century. Area of threats – Area of challenges

Current migratory movements have been mostly connected with the refugee crisis initiated in 2015, the deliberate actions of the government of Belarus in 2021 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It should be assumed that the pursuit of people towards the area of security is associated with multiple threats and challenges both for themselves and for their surroundings. The problems concern countries of departure, transit and destination. In each of these “stages” there are multiple threats affecting not only the refugees themselves. The main problem is the identification and analysis of threats, which would allow to define the conditions for strengthening the area of security related to migration. Threats concern both the life and health of people on the move (death in transit, loss of health, exposure to criminal and extreme political circles, involvement in criminal activities, economic exploitation, ethnic and religious animosities and conflicts) and for the institutions of states (social assistance, internal security). Global events indicate that threats, problems and challenges will continue to exist. It is therefore necessary to adapt the forms of institutional actions towards the problem in order to neutralize the indicated threats.

Threats to the Tri-City border area

This article is devoted to criminality related to exploitation of the state border. The focus in on threats that are its effect and have a negative impact on the frontier zone, taking as a reference the frontier zone of Tri-City. The border crossing on the area od Tri-City is depicted, as well as border traffic that takes place within it, with the division into border, land, aerial, overland and maritime crossing. In addition, the theoretical phenomena of migration is described through introducing related concepts. In the crucial part of this article border criminality that occurs in the board area is presented and characterized.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the European Union (EU) Migration and Asylum Policy, a perspective of African migrants in Europe. Attempts were made to identify the perception of Africans in the EU on its migration and Asylum policy and assess whether the policy encourages migration and Asylum in the EU. To achieve this, descriptive survey was employed and questionnaires were administered to 100 respondents in Europe from different African countries. The data collected using the online questionnaires were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviations. From the results, it was concluded that immigration into the EU is undertaken by male citizens of most African countries especially at their youthful ages driven by the need to pursue education and job opportunities. Their stay in the EU breeds the desire (positive perception and desire) to obtain either work status or EU nationality. Many of them desire to be integrated into the host countries rather than repatriated to their countries. Finally, most of them greatly esteem the EU migration and asylum policy and prefer to stay within the EU than be resettled or repatriated, according to the new EU Pact policy.

Determinants and consequences of migrations from Poland to other European Union Countries in socio-economic view

The subject of this article is the question of the social consequences of economic migration. Migrant workers contribute to growth and development in their countries but in the long term perspective mass migrations of citizens abroad may cause serious social crisis. Migrations are a serious threat to family policy, employment policy and social security of citizens. Migration strategy the state should find a solution which on the one hand will make use of the gains offered by the free movement of persons on the other hand will stop the negative social effects of migration.