How do some language learners triumph against all odds, despite not having obvious heritage links or spending extended periods of time in the L2 environment pre-adulthood? This book delves into the autobiographical stories of learners who achieve nativelike proficiency, opening a narrative window into their experiences and offering insights into their pathways to success. The in-depth analysis ties together a wide range of potentially relevant topics, from motivational vision and international posture to issues of identity, endurance and even musical ability, among other themes. The authors explore whether these successes can be repeated by others and the book will be of use to language teachers interested in learner motivation and the antecedents to high-level ultimate attainment. The book will also be of great interest to researchers working in the areas of language learner psychology, especially in topics concerning language learning motivation, identity and narrative inquiry.
Table of Content
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Theoretical Background
2. Methodology: Identifying Participants and Documenting Their Stories
3. Defining Nativelikeness
4. A Favourable Set-Up
5. A Unique Bond with the Chosen Language
6. Cognition and Other Facilitative Learner Characteristics
7. Attention to Pronunciation
8. Intensive Effort and Strategic Learning
9. Reinforcing Relationships and Social Expectations
10. Sources of Persistence
11. Second Language Confidence, Comfort and Ownership
12. The Question of L2 Identities
Conclusion
Appendix
References
About the author
Katarina Mentzelopoulos is an ESRC-funded Ph D student at the University of Nottingham, UK. Her research interests include language learning motivation, multilingualism and learner identity.
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