Cambodian Refugees in Ontario

‘It’s Like You Are Trapped in a Small Place’: Language Skill Acquisition and Settlement Outcomes of Ageing Cambodian Refugees

“…This may have accounted for the truncated language supports first-generation Cambodians received, as they were in the cross-currents of varying education policy and program changes during their early resettlement period. A significant degree of a lack of prior formal learning was evident among Cambodian refugees arriving in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s with more than half of men and the majority of women being functionally illiterate in the Khmer language (McLellan, 2009). In an analysis of Employment and Immigration Canada data, McLellan (2009) explains that among the 18602 Cambodian refugees who were resettled in Canada between 1980 and 1992, only 8 percent reported either French or English fluency.…”

“…Of the group, 31 percent or 5,678 had no formal education and 54 percent or 9980 had received some primary education in Cambodia; and 3 percent or 624 reported completing education levels equivalent to grade 9. The number reporting a completion of some secondary school was 1513 or 8 percent; only 393 or 2 percent had completed secondary school; while 488 or 3 percent had some post-secondary education (Employment and Immigration Canada 1980-92;McLellan 2009). These significant language and educational needs and challenges should have signaled to social workers and other members of Canada's resettlement bureaucracy of the need for highly specialized service provision and long-term support.…”

“…This paper focuses on the experience of In Canada, the majority of Cambodian refugees initially settled in larger urban areas such as Montreal and Toronto. Some refugees preferred smaller cities which they believed would be more conducive to language skill acquisition, finding jobs and integrating into communities (McLellan, 1995(McLellan, , 2004(McLellan, , 2009. Cambodian refugees who settled in Ontario cities such as Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor were impacted by the limited availability of Khmer translators.…”

“…Cambodian refugees who settled in Ontario cities such as Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor were impacted by the limited availability of Khmer translators. Given that language support was essential for their engagement in routine activities such as communicating with medical professionals or school staff, limited availability would have far-reaching impact on their everyday life and overall social participation (McLellan, 2009). Further, barriers to English as a Second Language (ESL) training resulted in resettlement challenges, such as social isolation.…”

“…Further, barriers to English as a Second Language (ESL) training resulted in resettlement challenges, such as social isolation. McLellan (2009) observes that English language acquisition was a significant impediment to resettlement among older Cambodian Canadians. As an earlier life course trajectory, it would function to curtail their ability to readily build the social capital required for integration and inclusion.…”