Swedish as a second language in school and in life : Some pupils' experience of SVA teaching and its future effect

Effectiveness of second language education in Sweden has been debated in the media and among lawmakers as well as within several fields of research, but few of the participants have had opportunity to comment on the matter. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine and clarify the views of some Swedish second language learners on how the educational system is meeting curriculum goals regarding possibilities to take part in work and community settings. Five learners of Swedish as a second language underwent a semi-structured interview, while five other second language learners participated in a survey on the same topic. The collected materials are then grouped and presented by theme and discussed. The results suggest that while second language learners of Swedish appreciate the opportunity to take part in the education because it gave them a way into other school subjects, they also feel that the course organization and content has not been the springboard into social and career settings prescribed in the syllabus