The meaning of English: Focusing on the life trajectory of a returnee from the Philippines

Kim Ou Lem, Mun Woo Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the diverse meanings of English by examining how a Korean returnee from the Philippines has experienced English throughout her life. Two methods were used to collect the data. First, several face-to-face interviews with the participant were conducted using a narrative interviewing method. All of the conversations were transcribed. Second, the participant provided and explained an illustration she had drawn depicting her experiences. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using a structural analysis method. The findings showed that the participant initially experienced English as a learner, and later as a user after acquiring fluent English. English enabled her to get along with others in the Philippines, but her fluent English made her feel isolated among her Filipino peers at university. Although learning Filipino helped her relationships with other students, English regained prominence when she started to apply for jobs. She was only able to secure jobs that depended on her fluent English proficiency. Eventually, however, she established her own YouTube channel as a means of embodying her identity both as a fluent English speaker and as a Mass Communication graduate. This study sheds light on the meaning of English in a returnee’s life within a broader socio-cultural context by providing an in-depth analysis of the returnee’s life trajectory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-424
Number of pages30
JournalKorean Journal of English Language and Linguistics
Volume24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 KASELL All rights reserved.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Education
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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