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Part of
A Language Management Approach to Language Problems: Integrating macro and micro dimensions
Edited by Goro Christoph Kimura and Lisa Fairbrother
[Studies in World Language Problems 7] 2020
► pp. 107–131

Chapter 6
Language selection in contact situations

The case of international students in an English-medium science graduate program in Japan

| Shirayuri University
| Sophia University

This study investigates the language selection of international students in an English-medium graduate program and their language management within the context of the university’s language policy. Based on semi-structured interviews, the findings of the study show that although international students follow or are forced to follow the university’s language policy, especially in formal contexts, they flexibly select English or Japanese as a lingua franca, or mix these languages, particularly in informal contexts. Moreover, sometimes interactants use two different lingua franca languages in the same interaction. Therefore, it can be argued that it is necessary to develop an understanding of the actual language use of international students and to reconsider the role of both the official language and local language in the program.

Keywords: contact situations, third-party variety contact situations, two-languages situations, international students, L2 speakers, Japanese, English, English-medium instruction
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Research on contact situations
  • 3.Research on international students in Japan and their language use
  • 4.Methodology
  • 5.Analysis
    • 5.1English lingua franca situations
      • 5.1.1Communication with professors
      • 5.1.2Communication among international students
      • 5.1.3Helping other international students
    • 5.2Japanese lingua franca situations
    • 5.3Japanese partner language asymmetry
      • 5.3.1Research equipment labels and manuals in the research laboratories
      • 5.3.2Gatherings for Japanese and international graduate students (coffee time)
    • 5.4Additional language symmetry situations in English and Japanese
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 20 May 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.7.06tak
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