Learning how to be a good colleague in Australasia: acquiring sociopragmatic skills for work

Abstract

This talk will show how research data collected by the Wellington Language in the Workplace Project has been used to develop materials for a course designed to prepare professional migrants for the work contexts they will encounter. Drawing on data recorded in New Zealand workplaces, I will illustrate the challenge of developing socio-pragmatic skills for use in Australasian workplaces. The discussion will concentrate on exemplifications of relational talk, including small talk and humour. I will provide some specific examples of the teaching and learning strategies which we have developed to assist learners to improve and expand their sociopragmatic skills, both during the course and in their workplace internships