Analysis of students’ identity in L1 and L2 writing

Abstract

Chapter 6 is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the advanced EFL student writers’ perception of writing in the two languages, while the second attempts at investigating whether writing in L2 creates opportunities for advanced EFL student writers to create an L2 self. Concerning the students’ perception of writing in the two languages, the chapter presents the results of the questionnaire study investigating whether there are any differences in perceiving the writing process in the two languages. The other part is built around four metaphors which were created on the basis of the students’ comments in the earlier stages of the research. The metaphors are as follows: language as a protective shield, language as a doorway to–, language as a tool to organize one’s thoughts, and language as a tool to create a new self.