Boston Lithuanian Community: Challenges and Opportunities

In the UK the need for adult immigrants to learn English includes considerations for the recently arrived and those who have been living in the UK for a long time but still do not speak English; those in a wide variety of work situations; and those experiencing cultural shock. In order to develop insight into adult learners’ needs this study used a survey to explore the participants’ perceptions and experiences concerning learning English within an ESOL program followed by semistructured interviews designed to provide deeper insight into the main obstacles to learning English. In addition the study investigates an opportunity for UK immigrants to improve their competence in English and for their children to study their parents’ mother tongue via an online learning program at a prominent Lithuanian university.