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

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.

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.