English Language Learning among Indonesian Engineers: a Bourdieu’s theory Analysis
Keywords:
Bourdieusian analysis, capital, field, Indonesian engineer, workplaceAbstract
English as a Lingua-Franca is interpreted as a means of communication deploying the speakers’ culture into linguistics identity. Engineers in multinational company experience English as the language for communication with fellows, superiors, customers, and vendors. Most of official documents, such as reports, specifications, and emails are written in English. This article applies Bourdieu's theory to reveal how the phenomenon of engineers learning English goes from mediocre to becoming proficient. A qualitative approach through semi-structured interview was employed toward 7 engineers from 3 companies. The main and important finding of this research is that proficiency in English is achieved by engineers through fast-paced and pressured situations due to job requirements. This research looks at capital, economic, social, culture, and symbolic capitals based on Bourdieu's approach from the societal field of learners. The researchers revealed that engineers' capitals in learning English independently is a disclosure that has not been widely reported in previous research. The results of this research found that capitals in learning English have become a long journey in life and career. Learning independence is a reflection of a leap in language learning that can be seen and felt by those who undertake it, sometimes because of pressured circumstances.
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