Language, Identity and Study Abroad: Sociocultural Perspectives (Studies in Applied Linguistics)

277 Pages·2008·1.46 MB·English

by  Jane Jackson

Language, Identity, and Study Abroad
Studies in Applied Linguistics
Series Editors: Srikant Sarangi, Cardiff University, and Christopher N Candlin,
Macquarie University

This new series publishes books that are innovative applications of language and
communication research; it is a companion series to the recently launched Journal of
Applied Linguistics.

Advisory Board:
Charles Goodwin (University of California, Los Angeles)
Jim Martin (University of Sydney)
Kari Sajavaara (University of Jyväaskyläa)
Gabriele Kasper (University of Hawai'i)
Mary McGroarty (Northern Arizona University)
Ron Scollon (Georgetown University)
Gunther Kress (Institute of Education, London)
Merrill Swain (OISE, University of Toronto)

Published in the series:

Sociocultural Theory and the Teaching of Second Languages
Edited by James P. Lantolf and Matthew E. Poehner
Language,Identity, and Study Abroad

Sociocultural Perspectives
Jane Jackson
Published by

UK: Equinox Publishing Ltd., Unit 6, The Village, 101 Amies St.,
London SW11 2JW
USA: DBBC, 28 Main Street, Oakville, CT 06779

www.equinoxpub.com

First published 2008

© Jane Jackson 2008

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in
writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 184553 141 6 (hardback)
978 184553 142 3 (paperback)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jackson, Jane, 1954-
Language, identity, and study abroad : sociocultural perspectives /
Jane Jackson.
p. cm. -- (Studies in applied linguistics)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-84553-141-6 (hb) -- ISBN 978-1-84553-142-3 (pb) 1.
Language and languages--Study and teaching. 2. Foreign study. 3.
Intercultural communication. 4. Identity (Psychology)--Social aspects.
I. Title.
P53.41155.J33 2008
418.0071--dc22
2007033136

Typeset by Steve Barganski, Sheffield
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Lightning Source UK Ltd, Milton Keynes
For my mother
and
in memory of my father

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Overview of the book 2
1.2 Research on study abroad (SA) 3
1.3 Aims of the book 10
1.4 Outline of content 12
2 Vygotskian, Bakhtinian, and Bourdieusian Perspectives 14
2.1 Vygotskian and Bakhtinian contributions 15
2.2 Bourdieusian contributions 22
2.3 Implications for ethnographic investigations of L2 sojourners 29
3 Contemporary poststructuralist notions of language,
culture, and identity 31
3.1 Language, identity, and culture 31
3.2 Communities of practice and situated L2 learning 40
3.3 The identity negotiation theory (INT): an integrative perspective 49
3.4 Implications for ethnographic investigations of L2 sojourners 56

4 Research site and methodological framework 57
4.1 The Special English Stream (SES) 57
4.2 The project 58
4.3 The illustrative case studies 69
5 Ada’s journey 72
5.1 Pre-sojourn 72
5.2 The sojourn 82
5.3 Post-sojourn 98
5.4 Ada’s journey in review 100
6 Cori’s journey 102
6.1 Pre-sojourn 102
viii Contents
6.2 The sojourn 112
6.3 Post-sojourn 128
6.4 Cori’s journey in review 131
7 Elsa’s journey 133
7.1 Pre-sojourn 133
7.2 The sojourn 146
7.3 Post-sojourn 168
7.4 Elsa’s journey in review 170
8 Niki’s journey 172
8.1 Pre-sojourn 172
8.2 The sojourn 183
8.3 Post-sojourn 193
8.4 Niki’s journey in review 196
9 Dialectical, situated L2 learning 198
9.1 Pre-sojourn 199
9.2 The sojourn 205
9.3 Post-sojourn 214
9.4 The situated learning of L2 sojourners in review 218
10 Towards a critical praxis in study abroad 220
10.1 Pre-sojourn 222
10.2 The sojourn 232

10.3 Post-sojourn 239
10.4 Implications for other border crossers 240
10.5 Suggestions for future studies 240
10.6 A final word 241

References 243
Index 258
Acknowledgments
This study was generously supported by an RGC earmarked grant from the
University Grants Council of Hong Kong (Ref. 2110093) and a Direct grant from
the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Ref. 2010244). I wish to express deep
gratitude to the students who participated in this study and shared their thoughts
and feelings with me as they crossed languages and cultures. This study would
not have been possible without their co-operation and candour. They remain
anonymous for reasons of confidentiality. Thanks are also due to the research
assistants who conducted interviews and transcribed interview or survey data
and/or proofread materials: Chan Hoi Wing, Chui Sze Yan (Amy), Pang Soi Mei
(Francine), Wu Zunmin, and Pan Ping (Cathy). I am indebted to Chris Candlin
and Srikant Sarangi for their wise guidance, encouragement, and critical acumen
throughout the writing of this book. Finally, I wish to thank Janet Joyce and her
production team at Equinox Publishing, especially Steve Barganski.