An Autoethnographic Approach to Identity and Second Language

Using autoethnographic and narrative inquiry, this book investigates the identity and literacy development of an international graduate student in the United States of America. The findings illustrate that the identities and literacy practices in graduate school were multiple, heterogeneous, dialogic, situated, and dynamic. The findings indicate that the development of both identities and literacy practices in graduate school require a considerable amount of interaction with others – through both people and texts - and that these interactions are the primary factor underlying disciplinary socialization. This enquiry formulates subjective evaluations about these interactions and how they fundamentally shape academic socialization. The study also underlines the significance and necessity of studying academic socialization from particular emic perspectives of individuals.