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Learning Language for Work and Life: The Linguistic Socialization of Immigrant Canadians Seeking Careers in Healthcare
Author(s) -
Duff Patricia A.,
Wong Ping,
Early Margaret
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the modern language journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.486
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1540-4781
pISSN - 0026-7902
DOI - 10.1111/1540-4781.t01-1-00157
Subject(s) - socialization , workforce , immigration , context (archaeology) , curriculum , language barrier , psychology , pedagogy , health care , face (sociological concept) , sociology , medical education , nursing , public relations , social psychology , political science , medicine , social science , law , paleontology , biology
This article discusses research on ESL for the workplace, identifying gaps in the existing literature and promising directions for new explorations. A qualitative study was conducted in one type of program for immigrant women and men in Western Canada seeking to become long–term resident care aides or home support workers. The study examined the linguistic and social processes at work in the education and integration of immigrant ESL speakers into the workforce and the broader community; the issues participants in such programs face; and the insights that can be gleaned for understanding language socialization in this context. Of particular interest was the contrast observed in one such program between the focus on medical and general English language proficiency, as well as nursing skills, and the actual communication requirements within institutions with large numbers of staff and patients who do not speak English, and who, in the case of the elderly, may also face communication difficulties associated with ageing, illness, and disability. Implications for future research and curriculum development are discussed.