Working It Out: Migrants' Perspectives of Social Inclusion in the Workplace

Autor/inn/en	Major, George; Terraschke, Agnes; Major, Emily; Setijadi, Charlotte
Titel	Working It Out: Migrants' Perspectives of Social Inclusion in the Workplace
Quelle	In: Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 37 (2014) 3, S.249-261 (12 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0155-0640
Schlagwörter	Work Environment; Social Integration; Language Proficiency; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Employment; Immigrants; Foreign Countries; Employment Level; Longitudinal Studies; Qualitative Research; Interviews; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Arbeitsmilieu; Soziale Integration; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Dienstverhältnis; Immigrant; Immigrantin; Immigranten; Ausland; Beschäftigungsgrad; Longitudinal study; Longitudinal method; Longitudinal methods; Längsschnittuntersuchung; Qualitative Forschung; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Australien
Abstract	This paper explores the concept of social inclusion from the perspective of recent migrants, from language backgrounds other than English, at work in Australia. We adopt an understanding of social inclusion that acknowledges the importance of economic independence, while also considering migrants' feelings of connectedness at work and their sense of belonging. Based on qualitative interviews with migrants collected two years apart, we explore the ways language and language practices can lead to feelings of inclusion or exclusion at work. The data suggests that migrants who felt included at work often had colleagues and/or bosses who actively supported and encouraged them in learning new skills, and made an effort to connect with them through small talk. In contrast, participants who felt excluded were unable to fully participate in work activities and/or workplace interaction because of limitations they or others placed upon them based on their English proficiency. We suggest that social inclusion, as it relates to employment, can also encompass different things for different people. For some, a sense of belonging is not promoted solely by having work or the ability to connect with colleagues, but also by obtaining employment of a type and level commensurate with their pre-migration status. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Applied Linguistics Association of Australia. e-mail: info@alaa.org.au; Web site: http://www.alaa.org.au/page/aral_journal.html
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10