Second Language Identity Formation as Experienced by International Students in Study Abroad Countries

Abstract

Language and cultural identity are things that can be summarized in terms of language identity. The construct of second language identity has strong relation with study abroad. Second language identity tends to appears in continuous classical conditioning through study abroad. However, no further investigation about this issue has been researched in Indonesian international student context. This study aims to explore how is the second language identity constructed through the interactions during study abroad. Through narrative interviews, this study would explore more about how second language identity of two international students constructed in their study abroad countries. The result of this study is second language identity construction is more powerful based on self-desire of participants and who the interlocutors are. Further, by knowing how the second language identity is constructed when international students are in native and non-native Englishspeaking countries, this study would give an empirical contribution about how English language learning patterns depend on the environment. Thus, the English teacher or language expert later could adapt English learning patterns through the construction of other people's language identity.