Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Note on text conventions
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Language use in a social context
- 2 The social dance: second language use and the construction of self
- 3 Learners and their environment: factors affecting self-construction
- 4 Coming into our own: the convergence of real self and ideal self
- Conclusion: The self in the second language: implications and next steps
- Appendix 1 Study context and research methodology
- Appendix 2 ACTR study-abroad program participants: 1995–1996 demographic profile
- Appendix 3 Participant profiles
- References
- Index
4 - Coming into our own: the convergence of real self and ideal self
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Note on text conventions
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Language use in a social context
- 2 The social dance: second language use and the construction of self
- 3 Learners and their environment: factors affecting self-construction
- 4 Coming into our own: the convergence of real self and ideal self
- Conclusion: The self in the second language: implications and next steps
- Appendix 1 Study context and research methodology
- Appendix 2 ACTR study-abroad program participants: 1995–1996 demographic profile
- Appendix 3 Participant profiles
- References
- Index
Summary
Indeed, many argue that the essence of one's personality (i.e., self-conception) emerges from and is refined through communicative interactions with others in society.
James B. Weaver III, “Personality and Self-Perceptions about Communication”Like just talk, talk, talk, and after a while it will get more comfortable …
Kathy, Spring SemesterKathy has learned a lot: “I've had an amazing time here.” After spending several months living, learning, communicating in a new language, she has undergone many changes. She has made friends, has learned about the culture, and is already making plans to come back to Russia soon. Scared and inhibited at the beginning of her language-learning journey, Kathy transformed herself into a confident language learner. She explains:
Well, I'm nowhere near fluency, of course, I mean, nowhere near. But I think, considering where I started, my progress has been amazing. Like, I can't even, I mean, remember how bad I was in the beginning, like, I know I must have been pretty bad, because some of the stuff I can say now, I, there's no way I could've said it in the beginning, like … So, yeah, it's like, I can't wait to go back and talk to some of my old professors and be like, this is what I can do now. I mean … I'm pleased … with the progress that I've made in the language, but it's always kind of hard seeing how much everybody else is progressing.[…]
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Study Abroad and Second Language UseConstructing the Self, pp. 113 - 143Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2005