Understanding Samir: educational difficulties of a high school student from refugee background

Students from refugee background enter Australian schools to pursue their educational goal. Though most do well academically, a few encounter difficulties and struggle acquire English language. An exploratory qualitative case study approach was used investigate factors contributing poor development of language academic progress challenges associated with the assessment process. Samir, 14 year old grade nine student Syria, who has resettled in Australia took part study. The method involved generating hypotheses collecting data multiple sources. his teachers parents were interviewed. A battery consisting receptive vocabulary screener, verbal non-verbal cognitive tests phonological processing measure, administered. Results indicated that Samir had an average nonverbal ability emerged as socially skilled good conversational skills. Nevertheless, he lacked academic-level skills learning this due factors, including possible underlying Developmental Language difficulty and/or Specific Learning Disorder. These coupled stress led him disengage studies, resulting performance. findings highlighted cultural barriers. Potential options for flexible teaching are discussed.