Strategic language learning : the roles of agency and context / Xuesong (Andy) Gao.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gao, Xuesong.

Series:

Second language acquisition.

Second language acquisition ; 49

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--Study and teaching (Higher)--Chinese speakers.

English language.

English language--Study and teaching (Higher)--China.

Second language acquisition--Methodology.

Second language acquisition.

English language--Acquisition--Methodology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (191 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bristol ; Buffalo : Multilingual Matters, c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This monograph reports on a longitudinal inquiry into mainland Chinese undergraduates’ language learning experiences in an English medium university in a multilingual setting with a focus on their strategic language learning efforts. This book examines the issue as to what extent language learners’ strategic learning efforts depend on their ‘choice’, if ‘the element of choice’ is the defining characteristic of language learners’ strategic learning behaviour. The inquiry, using a qualitative and ethnographic research approach, reveals dynamic interaction between learners’ agency and contextual conditions underlying the participants’ strategic learning process. Such understanding informs pedagogical efforts to foster individual learners’ capacity for strategic learning and their capacities in opening up and sustaining a social learning space for exercising their strategic learning capacity or utilizing their strategic learning knowledge.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Towards a Sociocultural Perspective on Strategic Learning

Chapter 3. Mainland Chinese Students’ Migration to Hong Kong

Chapter 4. On the Chinese Mainland

Chapter 5. Learning English in Hong Kong

Chapter 6. Four Case Studies

Chapter 7. Agency and Context in Strategic Learning

Appendix 1: Interview Guide for the Arriving Mainland Chinese Undergraduates

Appendix 2: The Exit Interview Guide for Mainland Chinese Undergraduates

References

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781847692442

1-84769-391-1

1-282-65708-9

9786612657085

1-84769-245-1

OCLC:

609423938