Dynamics of a Social Language Learning Community

The authors are all researchers working at Kanda University of International Studies, Japan. The research team is led by Jo Mynard, Professor and Director of the Self Access Learning Center. The co-authors, Michael Burke, Daniel Hooper, Bethan Kushida, Phoebe Lyon, Ross Sampson and Phillip Taw, are all lecturers within the English Language Institute at the university.

It is refreshing to see a book on language learners and their experiences that actually takes the learners’ voices as the starting point. This book gives fascinating insights into the psychological realities of the language learning journey and provides us with important directions for future practice and research.

• Part 1: Setting the SceneChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Social Learning SpacesChapter 3. The Japanese Educational ContextChapter 4. MethodologyPart 2: Case StudiesChapter 5. “If some freshman come to us, I said like, ‘please join us’.” Kokon’s StoryChapter 6. “We see like the same people like every day so I feel like yeah it's kind of like a community, Yellow Sofa community kind of thing.” Sina’s StoryChapter 7. “Is it okay if I ignore grammar and just speak?” Kaede's StoryChapter 8. “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.” Rintaro’s StoryChapter 9. “I should be more confident in talking with people.” Sachiko’s StoryChapter 10. “Just try is I think the most important thing”. Sayaka's StoryPart 3: Exploring Concepts Through the ResearchChapter 11. Understanding Identity in a Social Learning SpaceChapter 12. Understanding Communities of Practice in a Social Language Learning SpaceChapter 13. Understanding Learner Beliefs and Other Individual Differences in a Social Learning SpaceChapter 14. Lessons Learnt from the Research Methods Applied in this ProjectPart 4: Implications for the FieldChapter 15. Summary of the Findings Chapter 16. Implications and Practical Interventions