English in a global voluntary work context: a case study of spoken interaction and its implications for language pedagogy

Nathan Page

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study analyses a sample of spoken interaction between a Japanese volunteer working for JICA (Japan International Co-operation Agency) and one of her co-workers in Jamaica. Details of the research context are provided, followed by a theoretical grounding of the project, which relates to publications in English as a Lingua Franca and related fields. In terms of methodology and epistemology, the research aligns with discourse analysis, specifically linguistic ethnography and interactional sociolinguistics. After presenting an an analysis of the spoken interaction based on these approaches, the resulting implications for language pedagogy are considered. This includes recommendations for specific aspects of language teaching and testing practice based on the research findings, which could be incorporated into a needs-driven localized pedagogy for future Japanese volunteers. These findings also carry significant implications for other contexts of language education, not only in terms of specific pedagogical practices but also regarding broader conceptions of language and communication.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)84-101
Number of pages18
JournalThe Asian Journal of Applied Linguistics
Volume1
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2014

Bibliographical note

© Authors. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Keywords

  • Japan
  • international development
  • language usage
  • voluntary work
  • learning
  • English as a Lingua Franca
  • language
  • discourse analysis
  • linguistic ethnography
  • interactional sociolinguistics

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