{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]],"date-time":"2026-03-20T23:37:52Z","timestamp":1774049872419,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":82,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757289600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2021.04924.BD"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2021.04924.BD"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UID\/00167"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/00167"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/00167\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00167\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDP\/00167\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00167\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Educ."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this article, we explore the role of the host language, and of civic participation, in the integration and inclusion of adult migrants and refugees in the Northern region of Portugal. To do so, we set the research question \u201cWhat is the role of the host language, its learning and its use in the integration and inclusion of adult migrants and refugees in Portugal?\u201d. This study draws on the works of Ager and Strang, Narli and \u00d6za\u015f\u00e7\u0131lar, O'Reilly and Silver to explain the establishment process that adult migrants and refugees go through in the host society, and is guided by the perspective that host language is not merely a communicative tool, playing a transformative role, enabling learners to move from passive positions to active, agentive ones. As sense of community plays a role in this process, we mobilize the model proposed by McMillan and Chavis.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>We conducted an extensive qualitative study on the perspectives of adult migrants learning Portuguese as host language students in public schools and social organizations which included 20 semi-structured interviews.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results and discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Our main results show the host language as facilitating these students' sense of belonging in the host society, boosting, on the one hand, their autonomy and self-confidence, which contributes to their empowerment, and individual agency; and on the other hand, the ongoing development of social relations and networks that counter isolation, exclusion, and marginalization.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/feduc.2025.1656989","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T04:16:51Z","timestamp":1757305011000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Host language learning and sense of belonging: the perspective of migrant students"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Maria Lu\u00eds","family":"Queir\u00f3s","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Isabel Margarida","family":"Duarte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Pedro","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.5281\/zenodo.8126639","article-title":"The role of social capital in refugees' trajectories into higher education in a host country: narratives of six refugees in Norway","volume":"14","author":"Abamosa","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Ident. Migrat. Stud."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1093\/jrs\/fen016","article-title":"Understanding integration: a conceptual framework","volume":"21","author":"Ager","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Refug. Stud."},{"key":"B3","year":"2024","journal-title":"Relat\u00f3rio de Migra\u00e7\u00f5es e Asilo 2023"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"947","DOI":"10.1007\/s11205-014-0823-3","article-title":"Immigrants' sense of belonging to the host country: the role of life satisfaction, language proficiency, and religious motives","volume":"124","author":"Amit","year":"2015","journal-title":"Soc. Indic. Res."},{"key":"B5","author":"An\u00e7\u00e3","year":"2003","journal-title":"Pprtugu\u00eas-L"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-2435.2010.00679.x","article-title":"Exploring social and geographical trajectories of Latin Americans in Sweden","volume":"53","author":"Andersson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. Migrat."},{"key":"B7","volume-title":"Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants: Guide to Policy Development and Implementation","author":"Beacco","year":"2014"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1080\/01425692.2018.1523707","article-title":"Inclusion and exclusion within a policy of national integration: refugee education in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp","volume":"40","author":"Bellino","year":"2019","journal-title":"Br. J. Sociol. Educ."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/ijrl\/eer038","article-title":"Integrating refugees: the case for a minority rights-based approach","volume":"24","author":"Berry","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Refug. Law"},{"key":"B10","volume-title":"The Location of Culture","author":"Bhabha","year":"1994"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.3390\/socsci8100284","article-title":"The linguistic integration of refugees in Italy","volume":"8","author":"Bianco","year":"2019","journal-title":"Soc. Sci.Basel"},{"key":"B12","first-page":"241","article-title":"\u201cThe forms of capital,\u201d","volume-title":"Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education, ed.","author":"Bourdieu","year":"1986"},{"key":"B13","volume-title":"Language and Symbolic Power","author":"Bourdieu","year":"1997"},{"key":"B14","author":"Cabete","year":"2010","journal-title":"O Processo de ensino-aprendizagem do portugu\u00eas enquanto l"},{"key":"B15","author":"Caldeira","year":"2012","journal-title":"A imigra\u00e7\u00e3o em Portugal: o portugu\u00eas, l"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/wcs.143","article-title":"Informal Learning","author":"Callanan","year":"2011","journal-title":"WIREs Cognitve Science, 2"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-0-230-36639-8","volume-title":"The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World","author":"Castles","year":"2014"},{"key":"B18","volume-title":"Integration: Mapping the Field (C. f. M. a. p. Research and R. S. Centre, Eds.)","author":"Castles","year":"2002"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1353\/dem.2001.0025","article-title":"A model of destination-language acquisition: application to male immigrants in Canada","volume":"38","author":"Chiswick","year":"2001","journal-title":"Demography"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203029053","author":"Cohen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Research Methods in Education"},{"key":"B21","volume-title":"Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants: Policy and Practice - Final Report on the 3rd Council of Europe Survey","year":"2014"},{"key":"B22","volume-title":"Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment","year":"2001"},{"key":"B23","author":"Creswell","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1080\/13603116.2019.1673958","article-title":"Words for inclusion: research experience and perspectives on the creation of online L2 resources for migrants and refugees in Italy","volume":"25","author":"Damiani","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Inclus. Educ."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.14267\/CJSSP.2021.1.5","article-title":"Essential Notions concerning the integration of refugees","volume":"12","author":"Decmann","year":"2021","journal-title":"Corvinus J. Sociol. Soc. Policy"},{"key":"B26","unstructured":"EF English Proficiency Index: A Ranking of 113 Countries and Regions by English Skills\n          \n          2023"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1080\/1177083X.2014.951662","article-title":"\u2018Yes, we can: but together': social capital and refugee resettlement","volume":"9","author":"Elliott","year":"2014","journal-title":"Kotuitui N. Zeal. J. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x","article-title":"The qualitative content analysis","volume":"62","author":"Elo","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Adv. Nurs."},{"key":"B29","volume-title":"Migration, Language and Integration","author":"Esser","year":"2006"},{"key":"B30","article-title":"\u201cThe interview in migration studies: a step towards a dialogue and knowledge co-production?,\u201d","author":"Fedyuk","year":"2022","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in European Migration Studies"},{"key":"B31","volume-title":"Pedagogia do Oprimido","author":"Freire","year":"2018"},{"key":"B32","unstructured":"Bar\u00f3metro da Imigra\u00e7\u00e3o: A Perspetiva dos Portugueses\n          \n          2023"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1837","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-8198.2008.00162.x","article-title":"Migration, identity and belonging","volume":"2","author":"Gilmartin","year":"2008","journal-title":"Geogr. Compass"},{"key":"B34","volume-title":"As Compet\u00eancias do Utilizador Elementar no Contexto de Acolhimento.","author":"Grosso","year":"2007"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.26512\/rhla.v9i2.886","article-title":"L\u00edngua de acolhimento, l\u00edngua de integra\u00e7\u00e3o","volume":"9","author":"Grosso","year":"2010","journal-title":"Horiz. Lingu\u00edst. Aplic."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1277","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732305276687","article-title":"Three approaches to qualitative content analysis","volume":"15","author":"Hsieh","year":"2005","journal-title":"Qual. Health Res."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1037\/pac0000326","article-title":"Refugee integration: research and policy","volume":"24","author":"Hynie","year":"2018","journal-title":"Peace Confl.: J. Peace Psychol."},{"key":"B38","volume-title":"Immigrants in the United States: How Well Are They Integrating Into Society?","author":"Jim\u00e9nez","year":"2011"},{"key":"B39","author":"Kindler","year":"2015","journal-title":"Social Networks, Social Capital and Migrant Integration at Local Level: European Literature Review. IRis Working Paper Series"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1177\/0038038503037001387","article-title":"Integration and how we facilitate it: a comparative study of the settlement experiences of refugees in Italy and the Netherlands","volume":"37","author":"Korac","year":"2003","journal-title":"Sociology"},{"key":"B41","volume-title":"Language and Culture","author":"Kramsch","year":"1998"},{"key":"B42","volume-title":"Tailoring Language Provision and Requirements to the Needs and Capacities of Adult Migrants","author":"Krumm","year":"2008"},{"key":"B43","first-page":"1","article-title":"\u201cPelo Direito de Falar: pr\u00e1ticas de ensino, acolhimento e empoderamento em contextos migrat\u00f3rios,\u201d","volume-title":"Seminario \u201cMigra\u00e7\u00f5es Internacionais, Ref\u00fagio e Pol","author":"Kuhlmann","year":"2016"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1418","DOI":"10.1177\/0146167213499186","article-title":"To belong is to matter: sense of belonging enhances meaning in life","volume":"39","author":"Lambert","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull."},{"key":"B45","volume-title":"Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed-Methods, Arts-Based and Community-Based Approaches","author":"Leavy","year":"2017"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1080\/13602004.2020.1777663","article-title":"Integration of muslim immigrants in europe and North America: a transatlantic comparison","volume":"40","author":"Liebert","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Muslim Min. Aff."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.33026\/peg.v20i1.6305","article-title":"O papel da educa\u00e7\u00e3o formal, n\u00e3o formal e informal na forma\u00e7\u00e3o pol\u00edtica de mulheres educadoras","author":"Lima","year":"2019","journal-title":"Revist. Pegada"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14201\/0LP0035","author":"Martins","year":"2022","journal-title":"Guia para a Inclus\u00e3o Lingu"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.17575\/rpsicol.v27i1.246","article-title":"Cidad\u00e3os Estrangeiros em Portugal: migra\u00e7\u00f5es, crime e reclus\u00e3o","volume":"27","author":"Matos","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psicologia"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1002\/1520-6629(198601)14:1<6::AID-JCOP2290140103>3.0.CO;2-I","article-title":"Sense of community: a definition and theory","volume":"14","author":"McMillan","year":"1986","journal-title":"J. Comm. Psychol."},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.35520\/diadorim.2020.v22n1a32311","article-title":"Language as resources: intercultural and inclusive language education at the brics scenario","volume":"22","author":"Mendes","year":"2020","journal-title":"Diadorim"},{"key":"B52","author":"Mertens","year":"2015","journal-title":"Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity with Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.12957\/teias.2022.66018","article-title":"Interculturalidade e PLAc: reflex\u00f5es acerca de educa\u00e7\u00e3o e cidadania de imigrantes e refugiados","volume":"23","author":"Miranda","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. Teias"},{"key":"B54","unstructured":"\u201cIf i stay here, I will learn the language\u201d: reflections from a case study of Afghan refugees learning Greek as a Second Language\n          \n          181\n          194\n          \n            \n              Mogli\n              M.\n            \n            \n              Papadopoulou\n              M.\n            \n          \n          Res. Papers Lang. Teach. Learn.\n          9\n          2018"},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1080\/02601370701219467","article-title":"Lifelong Learning and the Social Integration of Refugees in the UK: the Significance of Social Capital","volume":"26","author":"Morrice","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. J. Lifelong Educ."},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1093\/rsq\/hdaa007","article-title":"Understanding and Measuring the social inclusion of Syrian refugees in Istanbul: the case of Zeytinburnu","volume":"39","author":"Narli","year":"2020","journal-title":"Refug. Surv. Quart."},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1177\/0261927X960153003","article-title":"Language, identity and adjustment: the role of linguistic self-confidence in the acculturation process","volume":"15","author":"Noels","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Lang. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21832\/9781783090563","author":"Norton","year":"2013","journal-title":"Identity and Language Learning: Extending the Conversation, 2 Edn"},{"key":"B59","year":"2001","journal-title":"The Well-being of Nations: The Role of Human and Social capital. Education and Skills"},{"key":"B60","volume-title":"Integrar em L","author":"Oliveira","year":"2007"},{"key":"B61","author":"Oliveira","year":"2023","journal-title":"Indicadores de Integra\u00e7\u00e3o de Imigrantes: relat\u00f3rio estat"},{"key":"B62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9256.2005.00232.x","article-title":"Social inclusion: a philosopical antropology","volume":"25","author":"O'Reilly","year":"2005","journal-title":"Politics"},{"key":"B63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1590\/S1980-85852012000200009","article-title":"Fluxos Migrat\u00f3rios em Portugal: do boom migrat\u00f3rio \u00e0 desacelera\u00e7\u00e3o no context de crise. Balan\u00e7os e Desafios","volume":"39","author":"Padilla","year":"2012","journal-title":"Revi. Int. Mobilidade Hum."},{"key":"B64","unstructured":"Los cursos de \u201cespa\u00f1ol para inmigrantes\u201d en el contexto de la educaci\u00f3n de personas adultas\n          \n          45\n          64\n          \n            \n              Parejo\n              I. G.\n            \n          \n          Carabela\n          53\n          2003"},{"key":"B65","first-page":"279","article-title":"Emigraci\u00f3n\/integraci\u00f3n, dos fen\u00f3menos inherentes","author":"Pesquero Franco","year":"1995","journal-title":"Did\u00e1ct. Lengua Liter"},{"key":"B66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1080\/13670050.2011.573062","article-title":"Linguistic diversity and social inclusion","volume":"14","author":"Piller","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Biling. Educ. Biling."},{"key":"B67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.24140\/issn.1645-7250.rle58.02","article-title":"Aprender portugu\u00eas l\u00edngua de acolhimento, em contexto n\u00e3o formal: imigrantes e refugiados em Portugal","volume":"58","author":"Pinho","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. Lus\u00f3fona Educ."},{"key":"B68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"484","DOI":"10.1177\/1362168817718580","article-title":"Intercultural citizenship in the (foreigh) language classroom","volume":"22","author":"Porto","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lang. Teach. Res."},{"key":"B69","first-page":"18","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ordinance No. 183, of August 5, 2020. Republic Diary No 151\/2020, Series 1 of 2020-08-05"},{"key":"B70","first-page":"2","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ordinance No. 184, of July 21, 2022. Republic Diary No. 140\/2022, Series 1 of 2022-07-21"},{"key":"B71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1515\/9783110477498-008","article-title":"\u201cThe impact of language and integration policies on the social participation of adult migrants,\u201d","author":"Pulinx","year":"2017","journal-title":"The Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants: Some Lessons from Research\/L'Int\u00e9gration linguistique des migrants adultes: Les enseignements de la reserche"},{"key":"B72","volume-title":"Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community","author":"Putnam","year":"2000"},{"key":"B73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.5585\/remark.v13i4.2701","article-title":"Content analysis","volume":"13","author":"Rossi","year":"2014","journal-title":"REMark \u2013 Rev. Brasil. Market."},{"key":"B74","author":"Semedo","year":"2011","journal-title":"Pol"},{"key":"B75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Silver\n              H.\n            \n          \n          The Contexts of Social Inclusion\n          \n          2015","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.2641272"},{"key":"B76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4615-0719-2_11","article-title":"\u201cImmigrant adaptation: understanding the process through sense of community,\u201d","author":"Sonn","year":"2002","journal-title":"Psychological Sense of Community: Research, Applications, and Implications"},{"key":"B77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1515\/applirev-2015-0012","article-title":"Integration through participation: the effects of participating in an English Conversation club on refugee and asylum seeker integration","volume":"6","author":"Sorgen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appl. Ling. Rev."},{"key":"B78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1093\/jrs\/fez040","article-title":"Integration or isolation? Refugees' social connections and wellbeing","volume":"34","author":"Strang","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Refug. Stud."},{"key":"B79","volume-title":"Global Education Monitoring Report: Migration, Displacement and Education","author":"UNESCO","year":"2018"},{"key":"B80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1475-5661.2008.00308.x","author":"Valentine","year":"2008","journal-title":"Language Use on the Move: Sites of Encounter, Identities and Belonging"},{"key":"B81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.1093\/jrs\/fez049","article-title":"Examining refugee integration: perspective of community members","volume":"34","author":"Weng","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Refug. Stud."},{"key":"B82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1080\/00313220600769331","article-title":"Belonging and the politics of belonging","volume":"40","author":"Yuval-Davis","year":"2006","journal-title":"Patterns Prejudice"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Education"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/feduc.2025.1656989\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T04:17:04Z","timestamp":1757305024000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/feduc.2025.1656989\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]]},"references-count":82,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/feduc.2025.1656989"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/feduc.2025.1656989","relation":{},"ISSN":["2504-284X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2504-284X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]]},"article-number":"1656989"}}