no / Carers make a considerable contribution to the health and social care of sick or disabled people, reducing the strain on health and social care systems. This has been recognised through support mechanisms, including (in the UK) a payment for caring (Carer’s Allowance – CA). This article draws upon data from a study of carers receiving CA. Utilising a citizenship perspective, it examines respondents’ perspectives on their role in the UK and shows how CA provides not only financial support but also contributes to normative conceptualisations of citizenship. The data highlight the primacy of paid work in UK citizenship, as well as the stigma associated with receiving welfare benefits. The article concludes by claiming that changes to the UK benefit system need to take into account a ‘recognition’ aspect, reformulating what is considered a worthwhile contribution to society.

Inscrite dans un contexte sociotechnique particulièrement marqué par la généralisation des technologies dites numériques, cette recherche étudie les représentations et les conceptualisations sous-tendant la modélisation fonctionnelle des élèves relative au fonctionnement des Smartphone tactiles et des Tableaux Numériques Interactifs. Les données sont recueillies selon cinq enquêtes menées par questionnaires et/ou entretiens collectifs auprès d'environ 1300 élèves (6e et 3e). L'analyse des données révèle : 1) l'absence de questionnement sur le fonctionnement des systèmes numériques ; 2) la préoccupation prioritaire sur les fonctions de service ; 3) l'identification de la fonction détection à la différence de la fonction traitement non perçue (logiciel, processeur, information). En outre les enquêtes menées mettent en évidence l'effet de la forme et du contenu des questions sur l'émergence des représentations mobilisées par les élèves et donc des conceptualisations sous-tendant leurs modélisations fonctionnelles. Cette recherche permet d'envisager d'autres travaux complémentaires pour saisir les conditions de cette modélisation en relation avec l'extension du réfèrent empirique. Enfin cette thèse suggère des orientations pédagogiques pour faciliter la relation entre familiarisation pratique et élaborations intellectuelles pour le collège en accord avec le socle commun qui intègre désormais l'étude des systèmes naturels et techniques parmi les contenus prescrits. / Joined in a socio-technical context particularly marked by the rise of digital technologies, this research studies the representations and conceptualizations underlying the functional modeling of middle school students about the functioning of touch Smartphone and Digital Interactive Boards. Data are collected in five investigations by questionnaires and / or group interviews with about 1300 students (6th and 3rd). Data analysis reveals: 1) lack of questioning about how digital systems work; 2) the main concern about the function of the artefact; 3) clear identification of the detection function in contrast with the information processing(software, processor, information). Also investigations highlight the effects of the form and content of questions about the emergence of representations mobilized by students and therefore conceptualizations underlying their functional modeling. This research enables to consider other additional studies to grasp the conditions of this modeling in connection with the extension of empirical referent. Finally this thesis suggests teaching guidelines to facilitate the relationship between practical familiarization and intellectual elaborations to the middle school in agreement with the common basic curriculum in France which now includes the study of natural and technical systems among the prescribed contents.

This paper aims to explore Swedish students’ experiences of English-medium instruction (EMI) in Swedish higher education. Previous research shows that students’ experiences of EMI in higher education are closely related to attitudes towards the proficiencies of lecturers and peers, which in turn are based on students’ conceptualisations of English. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, three interrelated themes are explored: (1) how prepared students felt they were to use English in higher education (2) students’ experiences of acquiring content through English and (3) students’ underlying conceptualisations of English. Three Swedish students at different institutions and programs were interviewed. Findings show that the students had varied views of what it was to be prepared for EMI as well as how prepared they felt they were according to their own definitions. Students also had differing experiences of acquiring content through English. All three students conceptualised English as a standard, native variety. Their conceptualisations of English as a standard had implications on student-student and teacher-student interactions, which was evidenced especially in regard to international non-native speakers of English. Findings are discussed in relation to relevant previous research on EMI and the Swedish context. Finally, suggestions are made for Upper Secondary school in-class practices, for the benefit of better preparing Swedish students for higher education in Sweden by implementing an English as a lingua franca (ELF-) perspective on English spoken interaction.