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Language Socialization, Higher Education, and Work

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Language Socialization

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Language and Education ((ELE))

Abstract

The discursive and interactional demands of higher education and work are evolving with the advent of new technologies, social and industrial restructuring, outsourcing, and globalization. In addition, powerful international lingua francas, especially English, are being used by a growing number of people worldwide for higher education and work, often in combination with other languages. People’s career trajectories are now also quite dynamic and, in some fields, precarious, given the social and economic changes in society, in addition to technological advances and the pressures of neoliberalism. As a result of these factors, people must learn new ways of speaking, writing, interpreting, and representing meaning through expanding repertoires of semiotic and communication tools, for new purposes and audiences, and with new networks of colleagues. Researchers, educators, and other members of society need to understand these complex socialization processes better. In this chapter, I discuss the socialization of learners at work or preparing for work by means of education activities and various forms of apprenticeship. I review early developments and main contributions in research in this area and then consider challenges and opportunities for future research.

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Acknowledgment

I think Ava Becker-Zayas and Duanduan Li for their helpful suggestions on earlier drafts of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Patricia A. Duff

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  1. Patricia A. Duff
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Correspondence to Patricia A. Duff .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Patricia A. Duff

  2. Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Stephen May

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Duff, P.A. (2017). Language Socialization, Higher Education, and Work. In: Duff, P., May, S. (eds) Language Socialization. Encyclopedia of Language and Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02255-0_19

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