Language Brokering as Young People’s Work: Evidence from Chinese Adolescents in England

Language brokering describes the task in an intercultural language event undertaken by children in families with one or two non-national languaged parents or caregivers. This paper examines the complex issues involved in being a language broker and explores these as they apply to a group of adolescents in Chinese families in the UK. The findings show that for these children the language brokering activities they undertake are not only complex and demanding, but make a significant economic contribution to family life.