Mobile resources for integration: how availability meets the needs of newly arrived Arabic-speaking migrants in Sweden

Abstract

The paper reports on the availability and use of mobile resources by newly arrived Arabic migrants in Sweden, and how the resources meet migrants' integration needs. Analysis of websites and applications (hereafter apps) in combination with focus group interviews is used. Results show that though a variety of resources are available, translation and vocabulary apps are primarily used. Possible reasons are lack of connection in language training resources to migrants' immediate needs such as employment and education, accommodation, contact with locals and societal information (Ager & Strang, 2008). Cultural differences might be influential for Arabic-speakers' low use of chat apps for communication with locals.

Perspectives of Nurses and Doulas on the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Intercultural Pediatric Care: Qualitative Pilot Study

“…Increasing digitalization in Europe, particularly in Sweden, is another barrier in terms of the digital skills gap that many low-skilled migrants must overcome when entering the host society [28][29][30]. Yet, from another perspective, information and communication technology (ICT), defined as a "diverse set of technological tools and resources used to transmit, store, create, share, or exchange information" [31], which includes computers, the internet, broadcasting, and telephony, provides integration support for developing contacts with locals [32], learning language and culture [33][34][35], and obtaining information about health care services [36].…”

“…To manage interactions with illiterate migrants, picture-based information and communication boards, partially available online, have been developed [42]. In addition, Google Translate, though criticized, is often used to manage language problems in intercultural interactions [32,43].…”