Inclusion and Integration in Sweden: Using Video Chat for New Arrivals in Sweden : How to Learn Swedish Live with Swedes Online – Easy, Flexible, Informal, Fast, Fun

In a time when immigration often is described as a burden, this study focuses on how the resources brought by the new arrivals could enrich the Swedish society. The basis is an innovative video chat for new arrivals in Sweden and it is potential for language learning and contact between new arrivals and established Swedes. Focus is on the role of innovative information and communication technology (ICT) services including distance education and informal cross-border communication. Demonstration of the newly developed IT-service will be conducted in relation to the following issues: How can the language diversity of the new arrivals be utilized as a resource? How can a purpose built video-Internet system facilitate the integration of new arrivals? What incentives need to be developed to include the Swedes and the local community? What kind of ethical guidelines need to be applied regarding integrity and how open the personal data should be in a specially designed ICT system for new arrivals? How can innovative ICT systems shorten the time for new arrivals to get internships and work in Sweden? The e-service, www.snackasvenska.nu (“chat in Swedish now”) are constructed with: (a) safe and secure log in, (b) filter-search mechanisms (such as females can search and be matched only with female speakers, etc.), (c) a lingo point system (more speaking time = more points; new Swedes can show how much time the spoken to Swedes and Swedes can show how much they contributed), (d) a topic box of random speaking themes, (e) a text chat with auto translation from speakers mother tongue to speaking partners mother tongue and more features. The system has been tested with new arrivals/new Swedes – Swedes in Gotland. A demo will be given and results presented at the conference.