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Nueva Zelanda
This article explores the relationship between place and thelanguage challenges experienced by older Chinese migrants inAuckland with low English proficiency while undertaking daily-lifeerrands. The ability to independently fulfil daily-life needs outsidethe home is a key factor that influences wellbeing and facilitatesthe social inclusion of older migrants. Informed by thesociocognitive perspective of everyday contexts as presentingplace-based learning opportunities throughout the lifespan, weundertook 57 go-alongs with 18 participants to examine howthey perform daily-life tasks at different venues (e.g.supermarkets). Through a thematic analysis of fieldnotes, weidentified venues where challenges occur, and the nature ofthese communicative challenges. The construct of task-basedlanguage use proved to be a useful analytical tool to understandthe complexity of language skills needed for daily-life errands.Whilst our understanding of task complexity largely aligns withprevious findings in classroom-based contexts, context-relatedconditions (e.g. perceived time pressure, environmental clues)affecting the complexity were more varied, and we demonstratehow particular conditions impacted on participants’ ability toundertake specific tasks. We outline implications for teachingcurricula that aims to prepare older migrants for out-of-class task-based language learning, and we advocate for greater visibility ofbilingual employees in daily-life venues.
