Identity and Language Learning

by Bonny Norton & Kelleen Toohey

New Words
-Anthropology is the study of the human race, especially of its origin, development, customs and beliefs.
-His bad behavior alienated his friends.
-JALT stands for the Japan Association of Language Teachers.
-The project has demanded considerable investment of time and effort.
-I allowed myself to be persuaded into entering the competition.
-Her story sounded perfectly plausible.

Summary
The identities of language learners should be focused because they are learning a linguistic system as well as sociocultural practices. Interests of researchers are shifting to sociocultural conception such as the learners’ gender, race and class. It is necessary to understand current theories of language, learning and the relations of theories between learners and identities for understanding current conceptions of identity and language learning.