The circle keeps getting bigger: A case study of immigrants’ informal learning in rural Nova Scotia

While many immigrants in Canada have access to some formal and non-formal language and cultural education programs in their new community and country, these programs represent only a small portion of immigrants’ learning and integration experience. This case study explores the role informal learning plays in five immigrants’ settlement process in rural Nova Scotia communities. A literature review provides an overview of past informal learning research, in the context of both English language acquisition and cultural connections within the local community. The findings highlight ways informal learning has informed the participants’ linguistic and cultural experiences in their own words. They also add to the dearth of literature on the rural experience of immigrants.