Second Language and Mother Tongue Education for Immigrant Children in Nordic Educational Policies: Search for a Common Nordic Dimension

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate whether and how a common Nordic dimension underlies existing policies on second language (L2) and immigrant mother tongue (L1) education. Our research question was: What do policy documents in the five Nordic countries say about L2 and L1 instruction? The theoretical foundation lies in the research fields of language policies and social justice. Document analysis was used to analyze policy documents. Our results show that there is a common Nordic dimension regarding L2 and L1 instruction, demonstrated through an explicit ambition to provide opportunities for the education of immigrant students in L2 and L1. However, there are differences between the Nordic countries in their commitment to principles of social justice, and how the policies are implemented.