"It Is a Constant Struggle of Trying to 'Stick to My Roots'": A Narrative Analysis of an Immigrant's Identities-in-Making

Autor/in	Wang, Min
Titel	"It Is a Constant Struggle of Trying to 'Stick to My Roots'": A Narrative Analysis of an Immigrant's Identities-in-Making
Quelle	In: Critical Inquiry in Language Studies, 17 (2020) 3, S.166-185 (20 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1542-7587
DOI	10.1080/15427587.2020.1713786
Schlagwörter	Immigrants; Personal Narratives; Self Concept; Resilience (Psychology); Second Language Learning; Learning Experience; Multilingualism; Case Studies; Social Integration; Student Adjustment; Cultural Differences; Parent Child Relationship; Translation; Group Membership; Preservice Teachers; English (Second Language); Teacher Education Programs; Language Teachers; Second Language Instruction; Indo European Languages; Student Attitudes; Creoles + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Immigrant; Immigrantin; Immigranten; Erlebniserzählung; Selbstkonzept; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Lernerfahrung; Mehrsprachigkeit; Multilingualismus; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Soziale Integration; Student; Students; Adjustment; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Adaptation; Kultureller Unterschied; Parents-child relationship; Parent-child-relation; Parent-child relationship; Eltern-Kind-Beziehung; Gruppenzugehörigkeit; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Language teacher; Sprachunterricht; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Indoeuropäisch; Schülerverhalten; Kreole
Abstract	Informed by the theory of identity in practice, this study examined an immigrant student's (Yulia's) language learning experience. A narrative analysis of Yulia's personal stories reveals that her perceived identities as an intelligent, different, and special multilingual speaker have isolated her from her communities. She desperately tried to fit in with various groups in multiple communities of practice. Unfortunately, although she felt a sense of belonging, she became a modified version of herself. Shuttling among languages, cultures, and groups, Yulia found that her true self was invisible in any culture in which she found herself. Moreover, positioned as her parents' secretary and translator, Yulia believed that her lived experiences have shaped her as a resilient, mature, and independent immigrant who shouldered many familial responsibilities at a young age. Her reversed role as a parent deprived her of time and joy to be a child. Yulia's multilayered and complicated identities interacted with her actions and perspectives on herself and experiences as an immigrant. Findings indicate that this immigrant's self-formation in action at times matches and mismatches her self-conceptions based on her learning trajectories and unique situations. Thus, the researcher argues that linguistic competence does not necessarily facilitate community membership establishment. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01