CDA: Identity and language

[anne mareck]

Cicero et al:

 

Helen Fox has a very interesting book on the subject of identity and
language learning written from a literacy perspective. Her  book _Listening
to the World: Cultural Issues in Academic Writing_  discusses what she calls
“world majority languages” and significant between “collectivist” cultures
and “individualist” cultures. Very thought provoking—definitely a useful
underpinning for any critical look at language.

 

Cheers!

          ani

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Salimos de la ignorancia y llegamos asi nuevamenta a la ignorancia, pero a
una ignorancia mas rica, mas completa, hecha de pequenas e infinitas
sabidurias.
                         ----Ernesto Sabato, Sobre Heroes y Tumbas

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-----Original Message-----
From: CDA-DISCUSS Discussion List
[mailto:CDA-DISCUSS at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG] On Behalf Of Cícero Barbosa
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 12:03 AM
To: CDA-DISCUSS at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG
Subject: Re: CDA: Identity and language

 

Hi colleagues, 

I'm sorry for the message I sent some minutes ago. I sent it before I had
read your messages, so I guess I was too repetitive. WEll, I would like to
send you parts of the discourse of a participant in my researches on
language learning. I would like to know how you see it in terms of language
learning and identity: 

Anita: When I got into the classroom, I started to hear everyone speaking
English [the target language]. Then I got scared. I thought: "Oh, God, they
all can speak. I can't speak English at all. What if they ask me a
question?". I had a feeling to run away from there, but decided to stay. It
was a shame that at my age and after all the courses I've taken, I can't
speak this language". 

 

Do you think that it has anything to do with the student's identity being
shaken/at risk in the classroom? Now, read this other one:

 

Grace: I wish I could speak this language [English, the target language in
the classroom] as well as I speak my native language. But it is so hard to
me. I speak badly. Because of this, I prefer not to speak in front of other
people, or they may think I am a stupid adult. 

 

I would be glad to have your rich comments on it. Thanks,

Cícero

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