International English Language Learner College Students Construct Identities as Writers Through a Writing Conference Program

• In Event: 60.084 - Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 60.084-7 - International Issues: Students and Contexts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore international English language learners (ELL) college students’ construction of identities as writers in participating in a writing conference program in the United States institutions of higher education. Community of practice, introduced by Lave and Wenger; and social constructivism, proposed by Vygotsky, was used as the theoretical frameworks for this research. After interviewing analyzing writing conferences of 14 international ELL students, it was found that they all moved towards the center of the academic communities and constructed varied degrees of identities as writers. Implications for college writing center programs and institutional support were provided.

Author

• Yiting Chu, University of Washington