Bicultural or Hybrid? The Second Language Identities of Students on an English-Mediated University Program in Sweden

Alastair Henry, Angela Goddard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

It has been suggested that in foreign language learning and ELF situations, identity might not be implicated in any great extent. Focusing on the impact globalization has on identities, the purpose of this study is to consider whether identity might be involved in Swedish students' reasons for enrolling on an English-medium university program and, if so, the types of identities students construct. Analyses of data from interviews with 11 students revealed that identities do play a role in students' enrolment reasons. However, rather than the bicultural identities identified in previous motivational research, the identities emerging here appear hybrid in nature. Along with other recent research, the results indicate that in contexts where English has a prominent social/societal/cultural presence it is implicated in identity construction, and that there is a relationship between identity and ELF.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)255-274
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Language, Identity & Education
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

2020-03-31T11:55:41.080+02:00

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Educational Sciences
  • Specific Languages

Free keywords

  • bicultural identities
  • English as a lingua franca (ELF)
  • English medium instruction
  • globalization
  • hybrid identities
  • identity
  • motivation
  • Specific Languages
  • Studier av enskilda språk

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Bicultural or Hybrid? The Second Language Identities of Students on an English-Mediated University Program in Sweden'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this