A1 Journal article (refereed)
Healthcare professionals on the move : investing in learning a new language for work (2021)
Terveydenhuollon ammattilaiset liikkeellä : työssä tarvittavan kielen oppimiseen investoiminen

Schleicher, N., & Suni, M. (2021). Healthcare professionals on the move : investing in learning a new language for work. Lähivõrdlusi. Lähivertailuja, 31, 191-228. https://doi.org/10.5128/lv31.06

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Schleicher, Nóra; Suni, Minna

Journal or series: Lähivõrdlusi. Lähivertailuja

ISSN: 1736-9290

eISSN: 2228-3854

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 31/10/2021

Volume: 31

Pages range: 191-228

Publisher: Estonian Association for Applied Linguistics

Publication country: Estonia

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5128/lv31.06

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78663

Abstract

This article investigates the interrelationship of migration and language in the context of the migration experience of healthcare workers migrating from Hungary to Finland and Sweden and becoming speakers of Finnish or Swedish in the process. A nexus analytical approach is applied in studying the investment of the healthcare workers in learning a new language for work. The analysis is based on interviews made with individuals either participating in or facilitating labour migration. The findings show that the investment in learning a new language in a labour migration context is intertwined with the migration decision itself, and the migrants usually realise a return on this investment while becoming legitimate second language speakers and community members. Individual life histories, global recruitment practices, language policies and language ideologies influence the process. The communicative situations at the workplace play a crucial role in reconstructing professional identities in this context.

Keywords: mobility of labour; second language; language skills; cultural capital (social assets); professional identity; working life; health sector; sociolinguistics; nexus analysis; Hungarians; Finnish language; Swedish language

Free keywords: labour migration; second language; investment; working life; nexus analysis; Hungarian; Finnish; Swedish

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1