The transformation of “a frog in the well”
-
Jane Jackson
Abstract
This chapter explores the developmental trajectory of a Hong Kong Chinese university student who participated in a year-long exchange program in Canada. After Kingston (a pseudonym) returned home, he enrolled in Intercultural Transitions, an elective course designed to enhance and extend sojourn learning through guided, critical reflection. Kingston’s oral and written narratives provided a window into his second language learning, intercultural communication, cross-cultural adjustment, and evolving sense of self. Multiple sociocultural factors (e.g. host receptivity), personality attributes (e.g. ability to overcome psychological barriers, degree of ethnocentricism/reflexivity, willingness to try new things), and depth of investment in language and (inter)cultural enhancement impacted on his “whole person” development. The findings underscore the complexity of learning on stays abroad.
Abstract
This chapter explores the developmental trajectory of a Hong Kong Chinese university student who participated in a year-long exchange program in Canada. After Kingston (a pseudonym) returned home, he enrolled in Intercultural Transitions, an elective course designed to enhance and extend sojourn learning through guided, critical reflection. Kingston’s oral and written narratives provided a window into his second language learning, intercultural communication, cross-cultural adjustment, and evolving sense of self. Multiple sociocultural factors (e.g. host receptivity), personality attributes (e.g. ability to overcome psychological barriers, degree of ethnocentricism/reflexivity, willingness to try new things), and depth of investment in language and (inter)cultural enhancement impacted on his “whole person” development. The findings underscore the complexity of learning on stays abroad.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement ix
-
Part I. Orientation
- Introduction 3
- Researching whole people and whole lives 17
-
Part II. Qualitative and case studies
- Self-regulatory strategies of foreign language learners 47
- “Opening up to the world”? 75
- Politics of identification in the use of lingua francas in student mobility to Finland and France 101
- An American in Paris 127
- Exploring the potential of high school homestays as a context for local engagement and negotiation of difference 155
- The transformation of “a frog in the well” 179
-
Part III. Pragmatics and identity
- “I joke you don’t” 207
- Getting over the hedge 239
- Identity and honorifics use in Korean study abroad 269
- A corpus-based study of vague language use by learners of Spanish in a study abroad context 299
- Afterword 333
- Name index 337
- Subject index 343
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement ix
-
Part I. Orientation
- Introduction 3
- Researching whole people and whole lives 17
-
Part II. Qualitative and case studies
- Self-regulatory strategies of foreign language learners 47
- “Opening up to the world”? 75
- Politics of identification in the use of lingua francas in student mobility to Finland and France 101
- An American in Paris 127
- Exploring the potential of high school homestays as a context for local engagement and negotiation of difference 155
- The transformation of “a frog in the well” 179
-
Part III. Pragmatics and identity
- “I joke you don’t” 207
- Getting over the hedge 239
- Identity and honorifics use in Korean study abroad 269
- A corpus-based study of vague language use by learners of Spanish in a study abroad context 299
- Afterword 333
- Name index 337
- Subject index 343
