Chapter 6
Biographical retrodiction for investigating the evolution of learner
agency and L2 writing development through study abroad experiences
This chapter explores the complex and dynamic
interrelations between L2 writing development and the evolution of learner
agency by using biographical retrodiction. A series of
in-depth interviews was conducted with two expert learners before and after
a study abroad period and narratives of their English learner experiences
were constructed. The findings suggest that both expert learners changed
their attitudes towards L2 writing according to the progress of their
overall L2 proficiency and that learner agency recurrently emerged in the
classroom and study-abroad contexts. The findings also emphasize the
usefulness of biographical retrodiction for analyzing accounts constructed
from learners’ narratives and contribute to understanding how various
components within learners’ agentic systems interact to complement L2
writing development.
Article outline
- Introduction
- Understanding learner agency from a CDST perspective
- Biographical retrodiction for researching learner agency
- Effects of study abroad experiences on learner agency
- Method
- Context and research participants
- Research procedure and analysis
- Findings
- Narrative analysis
- Jun’s narrative
- English learning history prior to SA
- English learning experience in a SA context
- Effects of a SA experience on learner agency
- Yu’s narrative
- English learning history prior to SA
- English learning experience in a SA context
- Effects of a SA experience on learner agency
- Discussion
- Development of L2 proficiency and writing through SA
experiences
- Uniqueness and patterns in individual agentic systems
- Evolution of learner agency
- Conclusion
-
References
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Appendix
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Cited by (1)
Cited by one other publication
Zhu, Xiaohui & Yangyang Duan
2024.
Ethnic Minority Students’ English Learning Agency: An Activity Theory Perspective.
Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics 47:1
► pp. 137 ff.
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