The interplay between identity construction and L2 investment during study abroad program: cases of MBA students from China

ABSTRACT

The study looked into three Chinese MBA students' discursive language and cultural behavior in an American study abroad (SA) program. It intended to unveil the complex social and individual factors shaping the students' second language (L2) and cultural learning. The key notions of identity and investment were employed to interpret the three MBA students' L2 acquisition in the American business school. The study revealed that learners' L2 investment and learning process during SA could be further complicated by their divergent academic and professional identities. Based on the findings, educational implications were drawn for SA programs in international education.

本文采用身份和投资理论对三名中国MBA学生在美国留学时的语言文化行为展开案例分析,考察塑造其语言文化行为的社会因素和个体因素。研究指出学生的二语习得和投资行为会受其学术身份及职业身份影响而复杂多变。文章最后依据研究发现为国际教育中的短期留学项目提出教育启示。

KEYWORDS:

• Second language
• identity
• investment
• study abroad
• professional identity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by “the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities” in UIBE.: [grant number TS4-06 and CXTD11-02].

Notes on contributors

Xingsong Shi

Xingsong Shi is a professor, Ph.D. in the field of sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, and intercultural communication. She is the Chair of the Research Center on Intercultural Business Communication in School of International Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, and the Deputy Secretary General of Chinese Association of Business English. She has published in some distinguished international journals, such as the Modern Language Journal, Journal of Pragmatics, Language and Intercultural Communication, Asian Journal of Communication, Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources etc., and has published extensively in Chinese journals. She was awarded the honor of New Century Excellent Talent funded by Chinese Ministry of Education, and her course Chinese and Western Cultural Differences has recently been awarded the National Teaching Excellency Award. In addition, she led four projects funded by the nation or the Chinese Ministry of Education and participated in several others.

Xiaoyan (Grace) Guo

Xiaoyan Guo is a Ph.D., lecturer in School of International Studies at University of International Business and Economics. Her major research interest includes sociolinguistics, multiculturalism, and second language acquisition. She has published in Language policy, Language in society, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, and Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, etc.