Browsing by Author "Ikonen, Kirsi"

The goal of this study was to find out, which ways second language proficiency affects social competence of children with immigrant backgrounds. Language proficiency not only affects the success in school and work life but also helps create social relationships, communicate and become part of society. Language barrier may be an obstacle for children with immigrant backgrounds and it may complicate coping with academic and social situations. Previous studies have proved that the second language proficiency has an impact on academic skills and school performance of children with immigrant backgrounds. In this study I examine, which dimensions of social competence can be found in research and how good second language proficiency affects different areas of social competence. I have defined social competence dimensions by Poikkeus (2008), which includes social skills, socio-cognitive skills, lack of negative behaviour and positive peer relationships. The study used the method of systematic literature review. The research material was limited based on precise criteria and four peer-reviewed, English-language research articles for 2010-2015 were selected. Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that the second language proficiency has an impact on the social competence of children with immigrant backgrounds. Several dimensions of social competence were found in each research. Second language proficiency had the most contact with social skills and socio-cognitive skills that were combined into one category in this study. Second language proficiency also had an impact on the lack of negative behaviour and positive peer relationships. Good language proficiency positively affected especially social skills and peer relationships and reduced retreat behavior.