Puhetta työstä: kansainvälisten terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten suomen kielen puhumistaidon arviointi

Authors

• Marja Seilonen Jyväskylän yliopisto
• Minna Suni Jyväskylän yliopisto

Keywords:

second language learning, speaking, working language, health care language skills

Abstract

Refereed article

This paper focuses on the Finnish language proficiency of internationally educated health care professionals, in particular on the assessment of their oral skills. National Certificates of Language Proficiency test results and oral performances (N=45) as well as participant background information including self-assessments and information on the everyday language use (N= 21) were analysed. Test results and self-assessments were well in line with each other. The qualitative analysis of the speaking test performances show that even though taking part in a general language test, the test takers indicate their professional orientation in thematic choices, vocabulary, chunks and expressions of indirectness in urging action. This reflects the fact that working life serves as their main forum for language learning. Two interviews with health care recruiters were also analysed, since employers are responsible for ensuring that the language skills of the hired health care professionals meet the needs of their working tasks.