English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis
The proposed changes to citizenship requirements in Australia have an increased focus on English language competency and on ‘Australian’ values. The dominance of the English language on the global stage can reinforce the hegemonic nature of the English language, which is becoming increasingly embedd...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81448 |
| _version_ | 1848764365848707072 |
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| author | Watts, Megan Hodgson, David |
| author_facet | Watts, Megan Hodgson, David |
| author_sort | Watts, Megan |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The proposed changes to citizenship requirements in Australia have an increased focus on English language competency and on ‘Australian’ values. The dominance of the English language on the global stage can reinforce the hegemonic nature of the English language, which is becoming increasingly embedded in the image of an Australian citizen. This raises questions on what is motivating the centrality of English language testing for citizenship, and how these shape conceptions of Australian identity. This research is a thematic content analysis of media releases from newspapers, government statements and other grey materials on the recent changes to Australia’s citizenship requirements, particularly English language testing. The research found that English language testing can be seen as a form of cultural hegemony, which is shaped by a discourse of social integration and border security. Implications for understanding diversity and working with diverse language groups are explored in light of the English language testing and citizenship discourses in Australia. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:18:12Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-81448 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:18:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-814482021-01-13T03:09:38Z English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis Watts, Megan Hodgson, David 1607 - Social Work The proposed changes to citizenship requirements in Australia have an increased focus on English language competency and on ‘Australian’ values. The dominance of the English language on the global stage can reinforce the hegemonic nature of the English language, which is becoming increasingly embedded in the image of an Australian citizen. This raises questions on what is motivating the centrality of English language testing for citizenship, and how these shape conceptions of Australian identity. This research is a thematic content analysis of media releases from newspapers, government statements and other grey materials on the recent changes to Australia’s citizenship requirements, particularly English language testing. The research found that English language testing can be seen as a form of cultural hegemony, which is shaped by a discourse of social integration and border security. Implications for understanding diversity and working with diverse language groups are explored in light of the English language testing and citizenship discourses in Australia. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81448 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext |
| spellingShingle | 1607 - Social Work Watts, Megan Hodgson, David English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis |
| title | English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis |
| title_full | English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis |
| title_fullStr | English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis |
| title_short | English Language Testing for Citizenship: A Thematic Analysis |
| title_sort | english language testing for citizenship: a thematic analysis |
| topic | 1607 - Social Work |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81448 |