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

Author:   Hengjie Chen
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN:  

9781041221234


Pages:   122
Publication Date:   03 July 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
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The Ecology of Agency: Lessons from Chinese High-Level EFL Learners


Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Hengjie Chen
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781041221234


ISBN 10:   1041221231
Pages:   122
Publication Date:   03 July 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

1: Introduction 2: Language Learner Agency 3: EFL Learner Agency in the Chinese Landscape: Issues and Context 4: Agency Manifestations of High-level EFL Learners 5: Fuelling Agency through Ecological Affordances 6: Conclusion and Implication

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Author Information

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.

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