Language socialization perspective on combined language and occupational skills training¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The article interprets participants' learning through a language socialization lens, in which language learning, sociocultural knowledge, and social interaction are interdependent. It states that participants' experiences "ties in with language socialization perspectives on the interdependence on language learning, sociocultural knowledge and activities, and the role of social interaction and experience in the development of new language and literacy competences." On this view, learning English to search for a job involves not only language but cultural scripts and schemata about what to say, to whom, and how, acquired through participation in the target community.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Analysis requires attention to social interaction and experience in the target community, not language form alone

Constraints¶

• The account is grounded in a small qualitative sample of nine graduates of one settlement agency's programs in Western Canada

Target Learners¶

• immigrant adults learning English for work and settlement

Target Learning Objectives¶

• workplace language and communication
• sociocultural knowledge for job searching and healthcare work
• identity transformation

Claims¶

• Successful program completion increased participants' self-confidence, self-esteem, and autonomy, which aided their settlement and integration into Canadian society [+W]

Related Theories¶

• Sociocultural theory as the lens through which SLA views learners and learning
• Vygotsky's sociocultural theory: development is historically situated, culturally determined, and proceeds through internalization of social interaction
• Sociocultural Theory

Examples¶

• Include explicit job-search skills training (resume writing, job-search strategies, cultural expectations of job searching) in occupational ESL programs

Key Sources¶

• Ping Wong, Patricia Duff, and Margaret Early. (2001). The Impact of Language and Skills Training on Immigrants' Lives. TESL Canada Journal, Vol. 18, No. 2, Spring 2001. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ659475