The Ecology of Agency : Lessons from Chinese High-Level EFL Learners

Hengjie Chen

ISBN 10: 1041221231 / ISBN 13: 9781041221234

Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul 2026, 2026

About this Item

Neuware - Learner agency plays a pivotal role in education by empowering individuals to take charge of their learning and self-development. This book explores the dynamics of learner agency among high-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in China's secondary education system.Adopting an ecological perspective, the author delves into the English learning histories of over 20 high-level EFL learners from a secondary school in East China. She examines how these learners strategically navigate their learning journeys by engaging with temporal (past experiences/future aspirations) and relational (family/teacher/peer/societal) resources within a high-stakes ecosystem. Specifically, the book studies the multidimensionality of learner agency, including its cognitive, behavioral, and psychological manifestations; the interplay between individual agency and ecological contexts; and the practical cultivation of learner agency in EFL settings.This book offers empirical insights for EFL learners, educators, parents, researchers, and policymakers seeking to foster learner agency in diverse educational environments.

Seller Inventory # 9781041221234

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Ecology of Agency : Lessons from Chinese High-Level EFL Learners
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul 2026
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1041221231
• ISBN 13: 9781041221234
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 234W x 156H x 35D millimeters 234 millimeters width by 156 millimeters height by 35 millimeters depth
• Weight: 400 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Learner agency plays a pivotal role in education by empowering individuals to take charge of their learning and self-development. This book explores the dynamics of learner agency among high-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in China’s secondary education system.

Adopting an ecological perspective, the author delves into the English learning histories of over 20 high-level EFL learners from a secondary school in East China. She examines how these learners strategically navigate their learning journeys by engaging with temporal (past experiences/future aspirations) and relational (family/teacher/peer/societal) resources within a high-stakes ecosystem. Specifically, the book studies the multidimensionality of learner agency, including its cognitive, behavioral, and psychological manifestations; the interplay between individual agency and ecological contexts; and the practical cultivation of learner agency in EFL settings.

This book offers empirical insights for EFL learners, educators, parents, researchers, and policymakers seeking to foster learner agency in diverse educational environments.

About the Author

Hengjie Chen has a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Shanghai International Studies University, China. She is currently a lecturer of Applied Linguistics at East China University of Science and Technology, China. Her research interests include language learner psychology, individual differences, etc.