Comments on: The real problem with linguistic shirkers

By: Migration, constraints, and suffering – Language on the Move

Migration, constraints, and suffering – Language on the Move — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:21:59 +0000

[…] Piller, I. (2016). Portrait of a linguistic shirker. Language on the Move. https://languageonthemove.com/portrait-of-a-linguistic-shirker/ Piller, I. (2016). The real problem with linguistic shirkers. Language on the Move. https://languageonthemove.com/the-real-problem-with-linguistic-shirkers/ […]

By: Thi Lam Tra DINH

Thi Lam Tra DINH — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 09:24:00 +0000

Language learners’ individual differences may vary in different immigration contexts. I think the state of immigration could explain for linguistic shirkers. Vietnamese immigrants in the US in 1975 illustrate for the sudden incident when they flee the home country without preparations of both sides, the refugees and the coming country, especially the pain that they experienced during the “nightmare” trips to the US (thi Dien, 2004). In addition, the refugees suffered from nostalgia which might have hindered them from assimilating into the new culture and learning the target language. Therefore, psychological measures should be taken in parallel of language learning.

Reference:
thi Dien, T. (2004). Language and literacy in Vietnamese American communities. Sociocultural contexts of language and literacy, 137.

By: The challenge of adult language learning | OUPblog

The challenge of adult language learning | OUPblog — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 15:37:30 +0000

[…] A longer version of this post was first published on Language on the Move. […]

By: Jean Cho

Jean Cho — Tue, 03 May 2016 05:49:00 +0000

As an autodidactic who began to learn English in Korea in my 20s, I fully agree that learning a second language is a lifelong journey. It, of course, necessitates persistence at an individual level but at the same time requires an appropriate social environment in which the value of the language in question is publicly appreciated. As an example, a Korean (or Japanese or Chinese) person who is dedicated to English language learning in his/her society is praised, for English is a valued commodity in those countries. On the other hand, learning English in Australia is just a natural act, something that doesn’t really need a systemic support. How to be able to create a right kind of environment for language learning is one of the most immediate issues facing immigrants.

By: sunchris1979

sunchris1979 — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 22:16:00 +0000

Blaming the Victim? Sorry not buying that argument. The sad fact is that Western Countries have let in too many people that would never be able or desire to adapt. Conversely, too many immigrants migrate with the intention of being taken care of and not having to their part to prepare (learn the language) or investigate fully the country they are immigrating too. Here in the USA, they simply arrive and expect it to be taken care of.
In my work I dealt with a lot of immigrant clients and there is one striking difference in behavior between the Japanese and West European immigrants vs. immigrants from 2nd and 3rd world cultures: the latter are willing to be humble and ask questions when they don’t understand a certain word or a culture more. The 2nd and 3rd world immigrants would often act as if we should adopt to their way. It is very common here in the states to see Americans pick-up simply words and phases from the other cultures and use it to in conversations with the immigrants. The immigrants in turn will often smile and praise the American for adapting their language. It is so backwards here. The end result here in America, is that our country is becoming full of poor immigrants who are forming the same country they left behind.
Some cultures are just too different mix and to do so only creates a society of great unequal. Immigration of 2nd and 3rd worlders to Western Countries is a failure. Time to be honest.

By: Ulrike Rettig

Ulrike Rettig — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 18:41:00 +0000

Being part of a family that emigrated twice to a new country, I find your thoughtful and detailed article about “integration shirkers” absolutely fascinating. I agree, there are many factors, including emotional, social, and political ones, which interfere with an immigrant’s speedy acquisition of the local language. As you say, victim blaming is just not very helpful and productive. Migrants need help with learning how to learn a language; receiving societies need to learn how to better support new, foreign language learners.

By: ALEXANDRA GREY

ALEXANDRA GREY — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:42:00 +0000

In reply to Language on the Move.

Yet having learnt a LOTE as a second language is usually not lauded as “genius” when the language is also in some way assumed to be part of the learner’s heritage. It’s a self-congratulatory rhetoric that is not equally shared around. Like in that article Ingrid recently tweeted about Australians being “too lazy” to learn Asian languages (http://www.smh.com.au/national/australias-potential-in-china-lost-in-translation-20160314-gni7zt.html?platform=hootsuite), there was an unexamined passing mention that the nation will come to rely on Australians of Chinese heritage as the only people who grow up to speak proficient Mandarin. No mention of the fact that many of these people still have to learn Mandarin as a second language, and put in a lot of effort to do so. “Chinese heritage” is a big grab bag, and people can mistakenly assume all Chinese-Australian kids have parents speaking school book Mandarin at home, whereas they may be speaking Mandarin dialects, Hakka, Hokkien, Cantonese or even the non-Mandarin languages of China (or English!) Even if Mandarin is the home tongue, it may not be written at home, which creates a really problematic mismatch of skills between what students bring into the classroom and what their teachers and text books expect them to be able to do, and demands a lot of learner effort. Plus there’s the whole additional pressure for Asian-looking Asian language learners of being held to higher standards of linguistic but also cultural proficiency.

By: Language on the Move

Language on the Move — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 03:50:00 +0000

In reply to Livia Gerber.

Thanks, Livia! Having very little experience with language learning, as many Anglophones do, is probably part of the problem … it’s imagined as relatively trivial (as is also evident from the recent discussion that equates language learning and coding).
At the same time, many people seem to assume that there is some sort of categorical difference between English and other languages, where English is imagined as easy to learn and not much effort is required; but having learnt a LOTE as a second language is a sign of real wizardry and genius … 😉

By: Livia Gerber

Livia Gerber — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 01:00:00 +0000

The Australian media is often outraged by migrants’ lack of English-language skills. At the same time, I’ve heard English-speaking Anglo-Australians claim “Australians aren’t just good at learning other languages”. Second language learning is not an easy undertaking, but claiming to not have the aptitude full stop without even trying is beyond me.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:38:00 +0000

It is certainly true that many people don’t realise the amount of time it takes to learn English, German or other national languages. I am always annoyed when I see textbooks like “Learn Russian in 3 months”, etc. Learning a language is so much more than learning to say a few very basic sentences.