#3959

Teachers: Research Practice / Talk 研究/実践についての話し合い 25 minutes / 25分

Int'l Ss' growth through autonomous situated learning in TL socializing

Sat, Oct 21, 15:25-15:50 Asia/Tokyo

Location: 西 1 206

Study abroad (SA) has become widespread. Most international students (Int'l Ss) are assumed to want to improve their target language (TL) skills and other related skills/knowledge by interacting with locals and people from other countries. This is referred to as situated learning (Lave & Wenger, 1991). However, TL-mediated socializing opportunities are not automatically taken for granted (Kinginger, 2009). The presenter investigated how Int'l Ss construct their own TL-mediated socializing opportunities and can grow through socializing as his longitudinal qualitative study. He collected qualitative data from nine Japanese undergraduate students who studied in English-speaking countries for short or long periods before, during, and/or after their SA using multiple research techniques. The main findings show that Int'l Ss lived in dynamically changing social environments and that each research participant developed his/her social networks in three patterns (gradual, click, and thin or loose) and then succeeded in co-constructing his/her TL-mediated affinity spaces (Gee, 2004) in different contexts. He also found that their TL-mediated socializing could be ecologically co-constructed by four categories of factors. Furthermore, he clarified that TL-mediated socializing enabled the students to grow as TL users. The presenter will discuss how to promote Int'l Ss' situated learning through socializing.

  • Yoshifumi Fukada

    Yoshifumi Fukada (Ed.D., University of San Francisco & Ph.D., University of Tokyo) is a Professor at Toyo University in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests involve L2 learners’ situated learning, dynamic identities, and agency and motivation in language learning and TL-mediated socialization (both in and out of class). His recent publications include ‘Whole language approach.’ (The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, Wiley-Blackwell, 2018), and L2 learning during study abroad: The creation of affinity spaces (Springer, 2019). He received his second doctoral degree from the University of Tokyo in 2023 with his dissertation entitled International Students' Co-construction of TL-mediated Socializing Opportunities in Their Affinity Spaces: A Longitudinal Situated Qualitative Study.