EFL learners' multiple identities constructions in relation to global positions of English

Abstract

In English as Foreign Language (EFL) learning, the learners' identities have been intriguing to be explored by the linguists. Norton (2010) argues English learning does not deal with knowledge and skill acquisition alone, instead it also comprises a complex process of the learners' identities, constructions, and reconstructions. Hence, English learning enables the shaping of English learners' multiple identities. This study was conducted in one of the Islamic universities (IU) in Malang, Indonesia. The multilingual and multicultural contexts of Indonesia is a crucial factor to conduct this study. These social conditions do also underpin the constructions of English learners' multiple identities in Indonesia (Wahyudi, 2018a). Hence, this study is intended to sketch out English learners' multiple identities constructions in the globalization (Anjanillah, 2019). In order to reach the goal, this study employed Pennycook's (2000) analytical framework dealing with English global positions and Gao's (2014) article on English learners' identity prototypes. This study belongs to Critical Applied Linguistics (CAL) since it attempts to conceive the possible implications of English spread in global context on English learners' multiple identities (Pennycook, 2001). The findings uncover English learners at IU performed myriad and contradictory identities (Anjanillah, 2019).