Multilingualism and its role in identity construction: a study of English students’ perceptions

This study aims to explore how university students of English as a foreign language perceive themselves as multilingual agents, how they practice their languages, and how this affects their identity. The study is based on Kramsch’s notion of third place (1993) which considers foreign language learning as an opportunity for the construction of interculturality, thus causing learners to redefine themselves as they hybridise their cultural identity. Data is gathered through an interview and a focus group discussion with 32 English language learning students at a public university in Morocco. The data is thematically analyzed and discussed. Findings indicate that multilingual learners think positively of multilingualism and avail themselves of their languages, using all of them but in different contexts. They also claim they experience identity shift, thus sustaining and developing multiple identities flexibly thanks to the languages they use. Such findings indicate that multilingual students are defining and redefining their cultural identities as modern, global, open and intercultural citizens under the impact of multilingualism. In light of the results obtained, some implications are discussed.