Second Language Learning by Adults: Testimonies of Bilingual Writers

The article focuses on the relationship between languages and selves in adult bicultural bilinguals who learned their second language (L2) post puberty and became writers and scholars in this language. Their autobiographic narratives are used to identify and examine subsequent stages of second language learning (SLL) and the authors' current positioning. On the basis of this novel source of data an argument is presented for new metaphors of SLL, new approaches to SLL, and for the existence—in some cases—of two stages of SLL: a stage of losses and a stage of gains, with specific substages within.

The article focuses on the relationship between languages and selves in adult bicultural bilinguals who learned their second language (L2) post puberty and became writers and scholars in this language. Their autobiographic narratives are used to identify and examine subsequent stages of second language learning (SLL) and the authors' current positioning. On the basis of this novel source of data an argument is presented for new metaphors of SLL, new approaches to SLL, and for the existence—in some cases—of two stages of SLL: a stage of losses and a stage of gains, with specific substages withi

saved by

• Aya Amer

related reading

• Second language acquisition and first language loss in adult early bilinguals: exploring some differences and similaritieshal.science
• Part 1: How To Be An Adult— Kegan’s Theory of Adult Development | by Natali Mallel (Morad) | Mediummedium.com
• ‘Learning a language is like becoming another person’aspirelanguages.wordpress.com
• becoming yourself is a social projectvelvetnoise.substack.com
• What is translanguaging? – EAL Journalealjournal.org
• Language Learning Strategies: An Update: Variability Reading Dedtechbooks.org
• Examining the Phenomenon of Quarter-Life Crisis Through Artificial Intelligence and the Language of Twitter - PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Writing as self-flagellationashleydzhang.substack.com
• My six stages of learning to be a socially normal personsubstack.com
• Dual Language Learners with Challenging Behaviors | HeadStart.goveclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
• Maternal Reminiscing Style and Children’s Developing Understanding of Self and Emotionlink.springer.com
• What is Translanguaging? | Heinemannblog.heinemann.com