Nail Technicians in New York City Connie Sargent

+ Nail Technicians in New York City Connie Sargent English for Specific Purposes Vicki Hollett and Evan Frendo November 2, 2010

+ Industry Overview n Nail salons are often owned by highly educated immigrants whose skills are not valued for jobs in the United States. n There are over 10, 500 licensed nail technicians in the New York City area, the majority of whom are immigrants from Korea and China. n New York State licensing requires a 250 -hour course of study plus a written and practical examination.

+ Industry Overview n Employees are under pressure to rotate customers through quickly while giving customers a feeling that the experience is relaxing. n This is one of the few times when diverse immigrant women have intimate social interaction with native English-speaking American women. n Interaction is made more complicated by physical contact.

+ Industry Overview n M. Kang (2003) found that there are different expectations depending upon race and social class, and different language needs to go with them: Upper-class white women in upscale neighborhoods expect physical pampering and emotional attentiveness. English language needs are high. n Working-class African and Caribbean Americans in lowincome neighborhoods expect artistic technical skills and respect. English language needs are basic and technical. n Middle-class mixed races expect efficiency and courtesy with minimal emotional engagement. English language needs are basic. n

+ Needs Analysis Surveys and Interviews n My focus was on the basic, no frills nail salon where nail technicians usually speak limited English. n 5 different sources were interviewed for information: n Nail salon owners n Non-native speaking nail technicians n Native speaking nail technicians n Beauty schools n Customers

+ Results n All nail technicians and salon owners agreed: n There is no need to read or write in English. n All social and business interaction in the workplace is conducted in English as a lingua franca because employees speak many different languages (Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Russian). n Non-native speaking technicians also said: n They feel insecure speaking and understanding English, with their clients and their boss. n Their clients rarely speak to them and they rarely speak to their clients.

+ Results n Native English speaking nail technicians all said: n Contrary to the non-native speakers, their clients come to relax and often talk about their personal lives. n Clients do all of the talking and nail technicians mostly listen and ask leading questions.

+ Results n Nail salon owners, nail technicians, and beauty schools were all disappointing sources of information. n Non-native speaking salon owners and technicians did not have enough English to adequately express their needs. n None had the metacognitive ability or interest to analyze what language they use or need. n All were suspicious of my motives and extremely pressed for time.

+ Results n Customer interviews provided a huge amount of quality information. n Customers felt that non-native speakers are rough, curt, and treat them like an object. n Every interview referred to a fear that nail technicians are talking about them to other nail technicians. n Some customers thought they would tip more if they felt more connected to the person doing their nails. n All customers wanted their nail technician to make basic small talk with them.

+ Interpretation of Results n Coworkers: Learners need basic English skills for communicating among other employees and their boss. n Communicative needs: Nail technicians need safe opportunities to practice speaking and listening. n Customers: Even basic pleasantries in English would make technicians’ customers feel more relaxed and connected, and would increase their chances of making more money in tips.

+ Curriculum: English for Co-workers n Learn concepts that will help communication with their boss. n Money and time: numbers, making change, understanding tips, telling time, prices n Learn vocabulary that will help them in their job. n Technical terms like: backfill, base coat, bonding, decal, foil manicure, gel wrap, glue, colors, linen wrap, quick dry, tips n Instrument names like: buffer, cuticle nipper, emery board, scissors, brush, clipper n Learn how to make pleasantries. n Small talk skills for making friends

+ Curriculum: Communicative Activities n Create activities that are focused on speaking and listening. n Ask students to think about small talk in their own culture and language. See if the subjects are transferrable. n Review what is inappropriate in the United States to discuss in small talk. n Play games that require having to think quickly, change subjects, and speak often.

+ Curriculum: English for Customers n Teach American ideas of relaxation and indulgence. n Practice small talk skills. n Learn how to compliment sincerely. n Teach American manners and gestures. n Review modals and how they can soften speech acts.

+ Bibliography n Lofstrom, Magnus. "Labor market assimilation and the self-employment decision of immigrant entrepreneurs", Journal of Population Economics 15. 1 (2002): 83. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. n Nussbaum, E. “A Stranger’s Touch”, New York Magazine, November 25, 2007, http: //nymag. com/print/? /beauty/features/41280/, taken October 18, 2010. n Greenhouse, Steven. “At Nail Salons, Beauty Treatments Can Have a Distinctly Unglamorous Side”, The New York Times, August 19, 2007. http: //www. nytimes. com/2007/08/19/nyregion/19 nails. html? , taken October 18, 2010. n Pearce, Susan. “Today’s Immigrant Woman Entrepreneur”, The Diversity Factor, Summer 2005, New Frontiers, Volume 13, Number 3. n Pratt, M. “The ABC’s and 123’s of Customer Service”, Nails Magazine, Nails Career Handbook Supplement, 2009, http: //www. nailsmag. com/career. Handbook/, taken October 18, 2010. n Kang, M. “The Managed Hand: The Commercialization of Bodies and Emotions in Korean Immigrant -Owned Nail Salons, ” Gender and Society, Vol. 17, No. 6, December 2003. http: //www. jstor. org/stable/3594672, taken September 29, 2010.