Faglig og språklig utvikling hos studenter med norsk som andrespråk i Akademisk språkkafé – praktisk medvirkningsbasert aksjonsforskning

Abstract

In this chapter, we present a practical participative action research project. The context of this study is the bachelor’s program in nursing, which, like other higher education programs in Norway, has increased the proportion of students from different age, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This is a resource in the universities, but on the other hand it is necessary to understand the challenges these students may have with studying in a foreign language. In the article, we have explored Norwegian and international research and found a need for new initiatives that can strengthen the academic and linguistic development of nursing students with Norwegian as a second language. Based on socio-cultural learning theory and principles of action research in our own organization, the purpose of this chapter is to show how students, academic staff and university librarians collaborated through cyclic learning and research processes to develop learning activities that can enhance academic and linguistic development in students with Norwegian as a second language. In the meta-reflections, we found that the combination of linguistic and professional learning and collaborative relationships was of significant importance in the learning processes. The predictable and cyclical structure of the action research approach strengthened the development of practical knowledge.