Is the First Language a Resource, an Obstacle, or Irrelevant for Language Minority Students’ Education?

Abstract Successful integration into the education system is of major importance for future prospects immigrants and their children as well social cohesion viability receiving societies. Language generally viewed an important aspect this integration. Whereas there widespread agreement that language residence country (L2) crucial students’ educational success, relevance origin (L1) disputed. Adopting interdisciplinary perspective drawing on NEPS data, contribution focuses role L1 in success examines whether serves a resource, obstacle, or mostly irrelevant. We describe key arguments theoretical positions related to issue present findings from project ‘The immigrants’ first second proficiency integration, particularly education: Analyses data’. conclude by discussing these results suggesting avenues research.