Saudi Graduate Students’ Identities in Relation to Emotion and Agency in Applied Linguistics: A Narrative Multiple Case Study

Abstract

This qualitative inquiry explores the identity development processes of graduate students in applied linguistics within the higher education context of Saudi Arabia. Through a merged research design of a multiple-case study and narrative inquiry approach, this study examined the narratives of Saudi graduate students’ identity development in applied linguistics, focusing on key experiences across past, present, and future, as well as their emotional and agentive experiences. Despite the growing body of research on identity in applied linguistics and second language acquisition, limited attention has been given to graduate students’ identity formation in this field. The study contributed to several key findings: 1) Early experiences shape Saudi graduate students’ current academic paths and future aspirations, 2) Positive and negative emotional experiences shape Saudi graduate students’ academic self-perception and identity development and 3) Saudi graduate students’ agentive responses to the challenges they face shape their identity development. This study’s outcomes provide insight into the dynamic relationship between the identities, emotions, and agency of Saudi graduate students in applied linguistics, offering practical implications and suggesting future directions for further research.