The Linguistic Borders of Asylum: Perspectives of Integration and Reception in the Portuguese Language Classes Offered by the Portuguese Refugee Council

Abstract

Considering that human mobility across national borders triggers significant claims for Human Rights, this paper focuses on the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Portugal from the perspective of the Portuguese language as a factor of integration. Drawing on the analysis of the programme Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PFL) offered by the Portuguese Council for Refugees (CPR), we approach the referred subject presenting the concepts of Portuguese as a Host Language (PHL), highlighting the specificities of this modality and emphasizing the peculiarities of language teaching/learning in the context of forced migrations. Through qualitative research, we interpret the data collected in the case study and raise discussions on how the local language is in fact being carried out for a real linguistic integration.

Keywords: Human Rights, Integration, Portuguese as a Host Language, Portuguese Refugee Council, Refugees