This collection of research has attempted to capture the essence and promise embodied in the concept of "identity" and built a bridge to the realm of second language studies. However, the reader will notice that we did not build just one link. This volume brings to light the diversity of research in identity and second language studies that are grounded the notions of community, instructors and students, language immersion and study abroad, pop culture and music, religion, code switching, and media. The chapters reflect the efforts of contributors from Canada, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States who performed their research in the countries just mentioned and in other regions around the world. Because of this, this volume truly offers an international perspective.

The role of cognition in a literature-based foreign language classroom is investigated and explained here. By implementing a sociocultural approach, cognition is understood as the basic building block for all human learning and language development. This study incorporates various understandings and views from reader-response theory, literary theory, and discourse analysis in order to support the conclusions reached through authentic classroom discourse analysis.

Along with clarifying current trends in second language acquisition theory, this text also offers the classroom teacher practical suggestions on how to aproach and evaluate classroom talk that is based on literature or authentic readings. The book also contains new approaches and views on the roles of reader-response theory in the language classroom that are also reflected in a contemporary literary theory that has been developed espcially with second language readers and learners in mind. The author challenges the current view of scaffolding as demonstrated in the data analysis and offers a more realistic interpretation of what may actually be taking place in the language classrooms under the guise of scaffolding. The role of opportunities to enter into discourse becomes central to the main argument and is exemplified through actual classroom transcripts.

This collection of research has attempted to capture the essence and promise embodied in the concept of ""identity"" and built a bridge to the realm of second language studies. However, the reader will notice that we did not build just one link. This volume brings to light the diversity of research in identity and second language studies that are grounded the notions of community, instructors and students, language immersion and study abroad, pop culture and music, religion, code switching, and media. The chapters reflect the efforts of contributors from Canada, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States who performed their research in the countries just mentioned and in other regions around the world. Because of this, this volume truly offers an international perspective.