Issues of Language Diversity for Today’s Refugees

A mass migration of refugees is threatening the economic and social stability of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, the Palestinian Territories and the European Union. Millions of desperate refugees from Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and sub-Saharan Africa are overwhelming the Middle East and Europe with needs for safety, food and shelter. Their language skills are not viewed as an imperative in the current chaos and yet they remain significant tools for escaping the poverty and misery of refugee life and obtaining employment in host countries. The author profiles how host EU and Middle Eastern countries have addressed refugees‘ language needs in the past and present. Suggestions are made for possible strategies for addressing language instruction for refugees.