The Other Third Culture Kids: EAL Learners' Views On Self‐Identity, Home Culture, And Community In International Schools

Abstract

This article aims to develop a better understanding of the dynamic identity of third culture kids (TCKs) who study English as an additional language (EAL) in an international secondary school in Ukraine. The research focuses on the internal forces of home culture and self‐perceived identities as well as the external forces of the school community and the classroom that influence EAL learners in their language acquisition. The article draws on qualitative data from interviews with individual EAL learners. The interviews investigated how EAL learners see themselves in terms of an EAL identity, how social status and community influence EAL learners, and how the home language and culture are influential in the language classroom. As a result of these data, the discussion focuses on the disconnect between the internal and the external forces that TCK EAL learners experience. The article concludes that more integrated collaboration between EAL and mainstream teachers would foster greater understanding of the internal forces and cultural capital TCK EAL learners bring with them to ensure more effective language learning in the external force of the language classroom. The authors conclude with recommendations for further steps.