”As long as Finnish is not forgotten.” : Finnish senior citizens' relationship with English and the attitudes towards its position in Finland compared to high school students

Abstract

This study examines the relationship of senior citizens to the English language, their attitudes towards English as a lingua franca, and how their attitudes differ from those of high school students. Language attitudes have been widely studied, for example, among schoolchildren and the working-age population, but senior citizens have been studied less. As Finland's population ages, it is important that older age groups are also heard. The status of English as a lingua franca is a widely recognized phenomenon in society, affecting all demographic groups. The purpose of this study is to highlight senior citizens' attitudes toward the status of the English language in Finland and to map out the differences in their attitudes compared to those of high school students.

Using a questionnaire, the study interviewed 26 senior citizens aged 68-92 and 20 high school first-year students aged 15-16. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: background information, my relationship with the English language, and the status of English as a lingua franca. The questionnaire included multiple-choice questions, statements rated on a Likert scale, and three open-ended questions. Both quantitative and qualitative data were used in the study.

The results of the study show that senior citizens' proficiency in the English language is lower than that of high school students, and they use English significantly less, even though most of them have studied English. Senior citizens view English as more of a threat to the Finnish language and culture compared to high school students, but both groups consider Finnish-language services to be important. Senior citizens avoid English-language content much more than high school students. The results of the open-ended questions indicate that senior citizens recognize the importance of English for young people and for the development of society. However, their responses reveal feelings of exclusion, distrust, and fear that they will not be understood in important matters. High school students' responses emphasize the importance of English in working life and everyday life. They consider the English language to be a strength for its users and an important unifying factor for the entire world.