In this study, we report on a task-based needs analysis (TBNA)
for primary school-aged newcomers to Austria. 31% of Austria’s primary school
students learn German as L2 and thus a systematic analysis of their language
learning needs is crucial. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a
survey was distributed. Results show 38 crucial target tasks for social and
academic integration and their respective rankings regarding perceived frequency
and the need for training. Triangulation of multiple sources and methods
facilitated the identification of target tasks in various life domains and the
development of detailed task descriptions along multiple task dimensions.
Collectively, the results provide a basis for task selection, task sequencing,
and the development of a meaningful syllabus for refugee/migrant populations at
the primary school level in Austria.