Supporting Immigrants in Workplace Language Learning: Challenges for Organizations

This article deals with how to support adult immigrants in developing work-related language skills from a work organization perspective. Developing such skills is important not only for the successful performance of work tasks but also for successful social integration into the work and social environment. The article is based on a study using combined quantitative and qualitative methodology. The authors were interested in how language teaching in the workplace can be organized for foreigners and what challenges are faced by Slovenian organizations employing foreigners. The research conclusions are developed with practice recommendations for such organizations.Keywords: immigrants, education, integration, learning language, organization

Language-learning support in the workplace, which the author talks about in this article, is extremely important for an adult immigrant—not only for the successful completion of work tasks but also for successful social inclusion in the work and social environment. Adult immigrants face many challenges in the workplace related to an adequate understanding of the work process and social life in general, understanding instructions, tasks, rights, and duties. The article is based on a quantitative and qualitative methodological approach and an approach of integration of quantitative and qualitative methodology in combination with one (or more) qualitative data collection techniques. The author then uses them to develop the article’s conclusions and recommendations for practice. The author’s findings have confirmed that immigrant workers must acquire language skills when using the language in authentic work situations. At the workplace level, an organization should know what helps and what hinders adult immigrants in work-related language learning.
The more managers who directly instruct and supervise adult immigrants are involved in the language-learning process in the workplace, the more effective the learning is. Leaders can guide, motivate, and promote language learning in the workplace if they are equipped with appropriate approaches and methods for workplace teaching and learning languages, including knowledge, skills, and competencies for establishing intercultural dialog, respecting diversity, and achieving interculturality in the work team. As the language-learning process progresses, immigrant workers also develop and build their personalities, new knowledge, behaviors, skills, competencies, experiences, and social networks. In this way, they can achieve and realize many of their personal and professional goals and develop their personal and professional identities. They can also act reciprocally as individuals and contribute to the development of the organization in which they are employed or to society’s development in general.