Finnish Professionals with Limited English Proficiency: a Study of Language Attitudes and Language Use

In today's globalised economy, English has been chosen as the official language of many companies also in non-English speaking countries, such as Finland. Having one common language is practical, but it can also make one wonder whether the employees with limited English skills are in a disadvantaged position at their workplace. This Master's Thesis discusses the use of English in a technology centre of a global company in Finland. The research participants are employees of this company, with limited English skills. The study answers the questions: "In what kinds of situations do the Finnish professionals encounter English at work?" and "What kind of attitudes do the Finnish professionals have towards the use of English in Finnish working life?". This study illustrates the effects of globalisation of economy on the individual by showing what it is like to use English in your workplace with only limited English skills. The results show that the research participants meet and actively use English almost daily in various situations, and that their attitudes towards English are complex.