Nobody’s darling? swedish for adult immigrants: A critical perspective

The elementary Swedish language program for adult immigrants (Sfi) is in many ways a privileged language program, as it is supported by an official language policy and is part of an integration policy ensuring all immigrants the right to free language tuition. However, after 40 years of practice, it still represents a low-status activity in search of recognition. After periods of intense pedagogic development, informed by research within applied linguistics, Sfi, as a field of expertise, now runs the risk of stagnation in a system of short-term tendering characterised by conflicts of interest, perspectives and values regarding the role and responsibility of the language program. In municipalities strained by poor finances and requirements to improve employment rates, Sfi professionals find it hard to claim their expertise. Longterm goals for immigrants to achieve personal and professional development and future citizenship are often overshadowed by demands for more efficient language training to speed up entrance to the labour market. Ignorance of important cognitive, sociocultural and affective aspects of second-language learning often characterises the official debates in which the time and effort it takes to learn another language and come to terms with another culture are often underestimated. This article gives an outline of the professional development of Sfi from a critical perspective, along with an overview of some key research within the field.