abstract: Through interviews and observations, this thesis provides an overview of refugee resettlement and explores the way one community is providing English language instruction to recently resettled refugees. It also describes the research process of this thesis so other researchers will be aware of the challenges such research contexts provide. In the southwestern state studied here, one of the refugee resettlement agencies holds the contract to provide English Language instruction to refugees. Other agencies provide supplemental English instruction and tutoring. The U.S. federal statute Immigration and Nationality Act, title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 400--Refugee Resettlement Program, and the local contract between the state and the agency were examined to understand the laws, regulations, and contracted agreement governing the provision of English language instruction for refugees being resettled in the United States. English language faculty and staff, staff at refugee resettlement agencies, and a state official were interviewed to understand their goals and the challenges they face as they address the language needs of refugees. English language instruction classes were observed to note the consistencies as well as some discrepancies between interviews and what could actually be accomplished in the classroom. As the classes are unable to provide intensive language instruction, most students struggle with becoming proficient in English. A list of recommendations is included regarding ways the local community can better address linguistic needs of refugees. Yet as Fass (1985) argues, it is unknown whether changing refugee resettlement efforts will actually produce different results. Though there are problems, the way the linguistic needs are being addressed in this community is sufficient given the numerous other expectations put on the refugees and the refugee resettlement agencies. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. English 2010

Bien enseigner pour bien évaluer et bien évaluer pour bien enseigner, voici les deux chemins qui réunissent « apprenant/enseignant » autour d’un apprentissage parfaitement accompli. L’enseignement du français à l’époque actuelle (2004-2016) a pris plusieurs dimensions en Syrie, ayant tour à tour une place très importante, importante, et moyennement importante. Les lacunes principales observées dans l’enseignement du français dans ce pays sont la non-prise en compte des besoins langagiers de l’apprenant et, par conséquent, une méthode et une méthodologie inadaptées, l’absence d’environnement francophone, la domination de la langue maternelle (l’arabe), l’incapacité de l’enseignant en psycholinguistique, le manque de motivation des apprenants et l’apparition modeste de l’aspect ludique dans les séances d’apprentissage. L’analyse de ces lacunes a pour but de chercher à les combler et de mettre les résultats au service de l’apprentissage du français en Syrie. Les solutions proposées sont mises en œuvre pour être le plus adaptées possible et à la portée de chaque enseignant et futur/enseignant syrien. / To teach well for evaluating well and evaluatingwell for teaching well, here the two ways whichjoin together “learning/teaching” around aperfectly accomplished training. The teaching of French at the time current (2004-2016) took several dimensions in Syria; in turn very important, important, fairly important. The principal gaps observed in the teaching of French it are not taken into account of thelinguistic needs for the training and,consequently, a method and a methodologymisfit, the French-speaking absence ofenvironment, the domination of the mother tongue “Arabic” and English, the incapacityof the teacher in psycholinguistiqueet the lack of motivation and modest appearance of the ludic aspect. The purpose of the analysis of these gaps is to seek to fill them and to put theresults at the service of the training of French.The suggested solutions are put in work to be the most adapted possible and close to each teacher and future/teacher.