The role of environment change on the learning process of Albanian return migrants' children: the case of students at Arsakeio college.

Abstract

Migration is thought of as way without return. Recent studies show a considerablenumber of migrants decide to return home. In the beginning of the 1990's, after the fallof communist regime, many Albanians left their country in searching a better and saferplace to live because of the unstable political and economical situation in the country.During the first years of migration, the migrant's dream or intention was to return home,after having gained enough money to get by. Although, there are a lot of studies about theAlbanian migration in Greece, return Albanian migration is a highly neglected issue.In this study we investigate the process of reintegration of Albanian migrants upontheir return at home. Specifically, the study focuses on the integration of Albanian returnmigrants'children. We examine their confrontation with the Albanian reality, the teachers,the other students and the Albanian language. Our intent is to make evident the problemsthey face during the everyday life within the school environment and the problems duringthe process of learning and the role of teachers in helping these students during theprocess of learning and the teaching methods they use especially with these children.Semi structured interviews are used with 20 students (16-18 years old) of highschool of Arsakeio. Part of the study is also the group of teachers who support andorientate these students.