Strategies and therapies for English language learners as refugees (STELLAR).

Abstract

Literature in the fields of education and psychology focuses on cognitive and linguistic development and/or rehabilitation for individuals overcoming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some refugee students dealing with PTSD are also English language learners (ELLs). Not only may refugee ELLs need to manage living with PTSD, but they also need to simultaneously master English as a second language to succeed in school. From the spectrum of strategies and therapies for PTSD, it was the goal of this study to investigate what methods may work best specifically with individuals who are refugee ELLs. The purpose of this study was to contextualize (in a specific urban school district) which approaches work best in for these ELLs in the opinions of teachers, therapists, counselors, and administrators. Using a snowball sample, professionals working with refugee ELLs who may be suffering from PTSD were interviewed. Results and implications for those people working with this unique group of students will be discussed.