“This May Create a Zero-lingual State”: Critical Examination of Language Ideologies in an English Learning Blog

Abstract

Given the importance of the blogosphere for autonomous language learning, many studies on computer-assisted language learning (CALL) have vigorously investigated the use of blogs in language learning. Noticeably lacking in these endeavors are investigations of language learners’ social engagement with others in online spaces to define and negotiate their own meanings of language and language learning. To fill this gap, this study investigated the language ideologies disseminated in a Korean blog that has become a collaborative online English-learning community. Focusing on this blog owner’s ideas and her followers’ responses, I explored the language ideologies disseminated and negotiated in conversations on language learning and using. This is part of a larger virtual ethnographic study conducted over the past three years. I analyzed online posts and comments using Gee ’s situated meanings ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"a17fc8enmk","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(2014)","plainCitation":"(2014)"},"citationItems":[{"id":562,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/1541043/items/CRDZ98AV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/1541043/items/CRDZ98AV"],"itemData":{"id":562,"type":"book","title":"How to do discourse analysis : a toolkit","publisher":"Routledge, 2014.","publisher-place":"New York, NY","source":"EBSCOhost","archive_location":"AC Frost Stacks P302 .G398 2014","event-place":"New York, NY","abstract":"Summary: Using a practical how-to approach, Gee provides the tools necessary to work with discourse analysis, with engaging step-by-step tasks featured throughout the book. Each tool is clearly explained, along with guidance on how to use it, and authentic data is provided for readers to practice using the tools. Readers from all fields will gain both a practical and theoretical background in how to do discourse analysis and knowledge of discourse analysis as a distinctive research methodology.","ISBN":"978-0-415-72557-6","shortTitle":"How to do discourse analysis","author":[{"family":"Gee","given":"James Paul"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}},"suppress-author":true}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (2014) . Findings suggest that the Korean bloggers subscribe to monolingual ideologies because they are acutely aware of the ideological contexts in Korea surrounding English and are critical about their own language learning and using practices. The current study asserts that the blogosphere can create opportunities for language learners to contest existing knowledge and voice their opinions on issues that matter to them as language learners and members of a society.