  This research work is intended to assess the usability of Pictogram symbols
and other visual symbols in an audio-visual strategy to facilitate and enhance
the use and learning of English as an additional language for Arabic-speaking
Syrian refugees, with a potential for generalizing the process to speakers from
other linguistic backgrounds. The adopted software for the project is
PICTOPAGES, a versatile tool with 2,200 symbols, 78 animated symbols, and the
potential for customization with photographs, thus augmenting its capability
for personalization and relevance. While PICTOPAGES is the intended basis for
this research, the concept and software will be adapted and modified as may be
required. PICTOPAGES includes text, recorded speech, and symbols and is
currently available for iPad. In the future, it may be adapted for use on
iPhone. A preliminary design using PICTOPAGES has been created for this
research. The focus group includes, but is not limited to, newcomers who may
have limited to no English skills, limited resources, limited education, and
potentially limited literacy in their native language, and perhaps high levels
of distraction and frustration related to their recent experiences. Enhanced
communication capability and confidence should enhance the participants
employment potential. Extensive interaction with respect to communication
requirements, selection or development of readily understandable symbols, and
real-world testing would be undertaken with an intended user group. A potential
subset of the focus group could involve members of the refugee community that,
in addition to English language limitations, also have developmental or
acquired disabilities that affect their ability to communicate verbally (per
the original intent of the software).
