This project examines higher-educated immigrants' first steps into Finnish working life from the perspective of Finnish language learning and use. We focus on work internships carried out as part of integration training or university studies, workplace orientation periods, and other language learning support provided by workplaces. By video recording a variety of work situations over as long a period as possible, we will study the development of language skills and changes in interaction practices. The main academic contribution of the project, which will be carried out at the University of Helsinki, is to develop the methodology of Conversation Analysis to better describe changes in interactional practices over time. By tackling language learning barriers faced by immigrants, the project contributes to a number of high-priority societal goals, including reducing labour shortages, retaining international students in Finland, and supporting the employment of immigrants.

2024

2028