ERIC Number: EJ1149219
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2202-9478
EISSN: N/A
Discourses, Identities and Investment in English as a Second Language Learning: Voices from Two U.S. Community College Students
Chang, Yueh-ching
International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, v4 n4 p38-49 Oct 2016
Adopting a qualitative case study methodology, the present study illuminates how two multilingual students enrolled in a U.S. community college ESL class negotiated the sociocultural norms valued in their multiple communities to make investment in learning English in college. Drawing on Gee's theory of Discourse and identity (1996) and Norton's theory of investment (2000), the study found that each student's investment in learning the language practices of the classroom was shaped by the diverse Discourses in which they participated across time and space. Despite confronting structural constraints, the focal students were able to mobilize their multiple Discourses to negotiate the existing sociocultural norms and invest in identities that have the potential to transform their lives. These findings suggest that multilingual students' learning at the college is shaped by their socio-cultural milieu and future aspirations. Thus, language educators should recognize their multiple identities as well as their agency, and broaden the curriculum goals to accommodate their diverse linguistic and educational needs.
Descriptors: Case Studies, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Multilingualism, Qualitative Research, Sociocultural Patterns, Community Colleges, Two Year College Students, Student Attitudes, Self Concept, Language Teachers, Educational Needs, Student Needs, Discourse Analysis, Teaching Methods, Semi Structured Interviews, Teacher Attitudes, Second Language Instruction, Grounded Theory, Transformative Learning
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Two Year Colleges; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A