English Language Testing for Citizenship
Abstract
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.
References
Ahluwalia, P. & G. McCarthy (1998). Political correctness: Pauline Hanson and the construction of Australian identity. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 57(3), 79-85.
Alba, R. & V. Nee (1997). Rethinking assimilation theory for a new era of immigration. The International Migration Review, 31(4), 826-874.
Altheide, D. L. (1996). Qualitative media analysis. Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Altheide, D. L. & C. J. Schneider (2013). Qualitative media analysis. Los Angeles, USA: Sage Publications.
Ang, I. & J. Stratton (1998). Multiculturalism in crisis: The new politics of race and national identity in Australia. TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies, (2), 22-41.
Ashcroft, B., G. Griffiths & H. Tiffin (2009). Post-colonial studies: The key concepts. London, UK: Routledge.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. (n.d.). Indigenous Australian Languages. [accessed August 28, 2019]. Available from https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/culture/topic/indigenous-australian-languages
Burke, R., Thapliyal, N., & Baker, S. (2018). The weaponisation of language: English proficiency, citizenship and the politics of belonging in Australia. Journal of Critical Thought and Praxis, 7(1), 84-102.
Carlucci, A. (2014). Influences and differences: The formation of Gramsci's view. Gramsci and languages: Unification, diversity, hegemony. Leiden, Netherlands, BRILL, 67-146.
Catsaras, A. (2015). Which newspapers most influence public opinion? [accessed August 28, 2019]. Available from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-29/catsaras-which-newspapers-most-influence-public-opinion/6653778
Costantino, T. E. (2008). Constructivism. In L. Given (Ed.) The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods (pp. 2--8). Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE. http://methods.sagepub.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/Reference//sage-encyc-qualitative-research-methods/n64.xml
Dendrinos, B., M. Karavanta & B. Mitsikopoulou (2008). Introduction: Theorizing new English(es). European Journal of English Studies, 12(1), 1-14.
Elder, C. (2007). Being Australian: Narratives of national identity. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen and Unwin.
Flubacher, M. C., & Yeung, S. (2016). Discourses of integration: Language, skills, and the politics of difference. Multilingua, 35(6), 599-616.
Hage, G. (2000). White nation: Fantasies of white supremacy in a multicultural society. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Halliday, M. A. K. & J. R. Martin (2003). Writing science: Literacy and discursive power. London, UK: Routledge.
Hobson, J. R. (2010). Re-awakening Australian languages. Re-awakening languages: Theory and practice in the revitalisation of Australia's Indigenous languages. J. R. Hobson, K. Lowe, S. A. Poetsch and M. Walsh. NSW, Australia, Sydney University Press.
Johnson, C. (2007). John Howard's 'values' and Australian identity. Australian Journal of Political Science 42(2), 195-209.
Jupp, V. (2006). Documents and critical research. In R. Sapsford and V. Jupp (Eds.) Data Collection and Analysis (pp. 272-290). London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Karp, P. (2016). Peter Dutton says 'illiterate' refugees would be 'taking Australian jobs’. [accessed March 12, 2019]. Availalble at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/18/peter-dutton-says-illiterate-refugees-would-be-taking-australian-jobs.
Lears, T. J. J. (1985). The concept of cultural hegemony: Problems and possibilities. The American Historical Review, 90(3), 567-593.
Lin, A. M. Y. & P. W. Martin (2005). Decolonisation, globalisation: Language-in-education policy and practice. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.
Loomba, A. (1998). Colonialism - postcolonialism. London, GBR: Routledge.
McMahon, N. (2016). English overboard: Dutton ditches the dog whistle and barks instead. [accessed March 11, 2019]. Available from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-18/mcmahon-dutton-ditches-the-dog-whistle-and-just-barks-instead/7425250.
Meaney, N. (2001). Britishness and Australian identity: The problem of nationalism in Australian history and historiography. Australian Historical Studies 32(116), 76-90.
Miller, T. (2007). Cultural citizenship: Cosmopolitanism, consumerism, and television in a neoliberal age. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
Moran, A. (2011). Multiculturalism as nation-building in Australia: Inclusive national identity and the embrace of diversity. Ethnic and Racial Studies 34(12), 2153-2172.
Parlinfo. (2017). Strengthening the integrity of Australian citizenship; 457 visas [Press release]. [accessed March 11, 2019]. Available from https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22media/pressrel/5225545%22;src1=sm1.
Phillipson, R. (1992). Linguistic imperialism. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Pochon-Berger, E., & Lenz, P. (2014). Language requirements and language testing for immigration and integration purposes. Université de Fribourg. https://doc.rero.ch/record/232954
Poynting, S. & V. Mason (2008). The New Integrationism, the State and Islamophobia: Retreat from multiculturalism in Australia. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 36(4), 230-246.
Rich, S. & S. Troudi (2006). Hard times: Arab TESOL students' experiences of racialization and othering in the United Kingdom. TESOL Quarterly 40(3), 615-627.
Rubenstein, K. & J. Field (2017). What is a ‘real’ Australian citizen? In B. N. Lawrance and J. Stevens (Eds) Citizenship in question: Evidentiary birthright and statelessness (pp. 117-131). Durham, USA: Duke University Press.
Slade, C. (2010). Shifting landscapes of citizenship. In C. Slade and M. Möllering (Eds.) From migrant to citizen: Testing language, testing culture (pp. 3-23). Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Slade, C. & M. Möllering (2010). From migrant to citizen: Testing language, testing culture. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan Limited.
Stratton, J. (1998). Race daze: Australia in identity crisis. Annandale, NSW: Pluto Press.
Stratton, J. (2011). Uncertain lives: Culture, race and neoliberalism in Australia. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Stratton, J. (2016). Whiteness, morality and Christianity in Australia. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 37(1), 17-32.
Tavan, G. (2005). Long, slow death of White Australia. Sydney Papers 17(3), 135-139.
Warhurst, J. (2007). The Howard Decade in Australian Government and Politics. Australian Journal of Political Science 42(2), 189-194.
