I worked with a Russian, a Moldovan, and a Cuban refugee when I washed dishes at a local restaurant while in University. They all worked 2 jobs. One man in particular would wash dishes for 10 hours a day and then deliver newspapers at 2 am in the morning. They didn't take language classes, instead they spoke with me and the other english speakers in the kitchen every chance they had to improve their communication. By the time I moved on their english had improved significantly. Point being..the best way to learn anything (especially a new language) is to be in a "sink or swim" environment. A classroom is no such environment (a hectic kitchen in a popular downtown restaurant is). My sneaking suspicion is that pride may be interfering with these Syrian refugees' ability to learn and adapt - this pride is only being reinforced by our Prime Minister (and our media) who fawn over these people like they're celebrities. This has to stop, let them sink or swim! Most of them will swim.