Language Development across the Life Span: The Impact of English on Education and Work in Iceland

Description

This book offers insights from a seven-year study into the impact of English as an International Language at a national level, from the effect of rich English input on a previously monolingual people’s linguistic repertoire to its effect on the situated language use demanded of speakers who find themselves in a new linguistic environment for which they have not been prepared. The changes described in the book have occurred in a speech community that identifies strongly with the local language, but finds itself increasingly having to use another language to perform daily functions in education and work. Findings describe how the official language and educational policies have not addressed this new linguistic ecology of Iceland. The findings of these studies have larger international practical, educational, empirical, and theoretical implications and should be relevant to anyone interested in in the impact of English as an International Language. Front Matter ....Pages i-vi Language Development Across the Life Span. English in Iceland: From Input to Output (Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, Hafdís Ingvarsdóttir)....Pages 1-18 The Policies and Contexts that Frame English Education and Use in Iceland (Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir)....Pages 19-34 English Exposure, Proficiency and Use in Iceland (Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir)....Pages 35-55 English Exposure and Vocabulary Proficiency at the Onset of English Instruction (Ásrún Jóhannsdóttir)....Pages 57-78 Learning and Using English: The Views of Learners at the End of Compulsory Education (Hafdís Ingvarsdóttir, Ásrún Jóhannsdóttir)....Pages 79-94 Academic Vocabulary Proficiency and Reading Comprehension Among Icelandic Secondary School Students (Guðmundur Edgarsson)....Pages 95-112 Perceptions of Relevance of English Education at Secondary School (Anna Jeeves)....Pages 113-141 Using English at University (Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir)....Pages 143-162 Simultaneous Parallel Code Use (Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, Hafdís Ingvarsdóttir)....Pages 163-178 University Instructors’ Views on Using Curriculum Materials in English (Hafdís Ingvarsdóttir)....Pages 179-195 Writing English for Research and Publication Purposes (ERPP): Personal Identity and Professional Voice (Hafdís Ingvarsdóttir, Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir)....Pages 197-214 Conclusions (Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, Hafdís Ingvarsdóttir)....Pages 215-222