Developing Capital in Language Learning: A Mixed-Method Study on Vietnamese English Learners

Abstract

English-as-a-Lingua-Franca’s acceleration serves an ultimate goal of preserving English language users’ cultural and linguistic identities. In Vietnam, English has emerged as the common language in the education sector, since it aims to equip learners with language proficiency and competence. Hence, it enables the acquisition of linguistic and cultural capital, which is fundamental to accentuate the future Vietnamese workforce’s personal commitment and competitive advantage in the globalized labor market. Therefore, this mixed-method study seeks to fill missing literature on how capital is acquired and developed through language learning in Vietnamese higher education, based on the interpretation of Bourdieu’s (1986) capital stances in social fields. Among 194 English learners from various cultural and disciplinary backgrounds, data suggested that (1) all forms of capital developed very differently and (2) symbolic capital was directly associated with other forms of capital. Implications are also presented at the conclusion of the article.

Exploring Vietnamese University Students' Acquisition and Development of Graduate Employability Capital

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Navigating New Horizons: Vietnamese English-major Graduates in Non-Traditional Careers

“…The value of English proficiency as a distinctive advantage in diverse job markets has been a consistent theme in various studies, aligning with the current finding. Vu and Do (2021) had previously discussed the increasing significance of English as a form of "cultural capital" in a globalized job market, suggesting that English proficiency offers a notable edge in professional settings. Our study further deepens this understanding, indicating that this advantage is not confined to roles that traditionally value language skills, such as teaching or translating, but extends to diverse sectors like marketing, finance, and technology.…”