This book presents a longitudinal research which covers a linguistic approach to understand and observe language learner agency. It makes connections between agency in discourse analyses and agency in applied linguistics by examining how learner agency is manifested in autobiographic oral narratives and influenced by contextual factors. This book also demonstrates that agency is not a fixed entity that English learners possess, but a dynamic construct constantly negotiated by the learners with the social world. It is the result of their identity positioning and repositioning within a complex and ever-changing context. Learner identities, either actual or imagined, are significantly correlated with their investment in English and their English learning process.
This book sheds new light on teaching English as a foreign language and gives inspirations for enhancing English learners’ agency in contemporary context of China. As learner agency should be treated in a dynamic and process view, a low level of agency manifested in a particular period or in a certain context may not necessarily persist in later periods or extend to other contexts. Provided with supportive contextual conditions and taking on positive and powerful identities, language learners are well on the course for higher levels of agency.
Author(s): Qiuming Lin
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 167
City: Singapore
Acknowledgments
About This Book
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
1.1 Research Background
1.2 Significance of the Study
1.3 Organization of the Book
References
2 Human Agency and Its Linguistic Representations
2.1 Conceptualizing Agency
2.1.1 Agency in Philosophy
2.1.2 Agency in Sociology
2.1.3 Agency in Applied Linguistics
2.2 Investigating Agency of Chinese English-Majors
2.2.1 Agency of Second Language Learners
2.2.2 Agency of Chinese Learners of English
2.2.3 Agency of Chinese English-Majors
2.3 Investigating Agency in Oral Autobiographic Narratives
2.3.1 Agency in Discourse
2.3.2 Agency in Oral Discourse
2.3.3 Agency in Oral Autobiographic Narratives
2.4 Summary
References
3 Understanding Agency: A Theoretical Framing
3.1 Theoretical Foundation
3.1.1 Agency as an Identity Dilemma
3.1.2 Identity, Investment, Imagined Community
3.1.3 Linguistic Realization of Agency
3.1.4 Common Grounds
3.2 Theoretical Framework
3.3 Re-Conceptualizing Agency
3.4 Summary
References
4 Observing Agency: An Analytical Framing
4.1 Research Questions
4.2 Analytical Framework
4.3 Participants
4.4 Procedure and Methods
4.4.1 Data Collection
4.4.2 Data Selection
4.4.3 Data Analyses
4.4.4 Data Interpretation
4.4.5 Data Organization
4.5 Summary
References
5 Agency Construction
5.1 Constructing a High Level of Agency
5.1.1 Hunter’s Delight
5.1.2 Proactive Voices
5.1.3 Transitivity Constructions of High Agency
5.2 Constructing a Low Level of Agency
5.2.1 Erica’s Bewilderment
5.2.2 Inactive Voices
5.2.3 Transitivity Constructions of Low Agency
5.3 Blending High and Low Levels of Agency
5.4 Discussion: Identity Making and Agency Construction
5.5 Summary
6 Agency Navigation
6.1 Intra-discoursal Navigation
6.1.1 Vivian’s Desire
6.1.2 Ambivalent Voices
6.1.3 Logico-semantic Navigations of Agency
6.2 Cross-Discoursal Navigation
6.2.1 Harper’s Trajectory
6.2.2 A Panorama
6.2.3 Online Learning Experience
6.3 Discussion: Identity Transformation and Agency Navigation
6.4 Summary
References
7 Conclusion
7.1 Research Findings
7.2 Reflections: Agency, Identity and English Learning
7.3 Concluding Remarks
7.4 Contributions and Implications
7.4.1 Theoretical Contributions
7.4.2 Methodological Contributions
7.4.3 Pedagogical Implications
7.5 Limitations and Suggestions for Further Research
References
Appendices
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
References
