Volume: 1  Number: 2  Page: 193–207  doi:10.2167/illt011.0

Language Learning Experiences and Learning Strategy Research: Voices of a Mainland Chinese Student in Hong Kong

Xuesong (Andy) Gao1 1English Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong and 2English Department, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Taipo, Hong Kong

The two-year longitudinal case study reported in this paper documents a Putonghuaspeaking mainland Chinese undergraduate student's language learning experiences and strategy use in an English-medium university in Hong Kong. Using a sociocultural approach, this paper focuses on three biographical episodes, which recount how the student attempted to create alternative ways of learning and seek new learning opportunities within the learning context, how she came to realise the limitations of her efforts and withdrew from her early active pursuits, and how she followed other mainland Chinese students in memorising words and attached her own meanings to her memorisation efforts. The paper highlights the social, cultural and political aspects of her strategy use and argues that learners' biographical experiences are an important avenue for us to understand learners' strategy use as a complicated phenomenon revealing the interplay between learners' agency and context.

Keywords: community of practice, learning experiences, learning strategy, sociocultural theory, longitudinal research

© 2007 X. Gao

Access this article