Towards an Understanding of Multilingual Investment in Inter-Asia Mobility and Beyond: The Experiences of a Thai International Student at a Chinese University
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
The sociological construct of investment is widely employed to examine language learning and usage in the context of global mobility. However, its application to multilingual learning, especially within inter-Asian international student mobility, remains underexplored. This chapter addresses this gap by examining the case of Renée, a Thai student fluent in Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and English who aspires to learn Italian and German at her host institution in mainland China. Drawing on poststructuralist theories of ideology, capital, and identity, this qualitative study investigates how these factors shape Renée’s investment, agency, and multilingual learning experiences. The findings highlight that her multilingual investment was influenced by two primary language ideologies: nationalism and economic pragmatism. However, Renée’s self-perception and how others positioned her resulted in identity tensions. While her multilingual abilities supported an aspirational identity tied to cosmopolitanism, they were also constrained by interactions with (near-)native peers, teachers, and unequal linguistic power dynamics. This chapter illuminates the complex sociolinguistic dynamics within Asia, where mobile students navigate multiple regional and global languages shaped by political, cultural, and economic factors. It further contributes to the sociological understanding of multilingual learning in a study-abroad context.
Recommended Citation
Xu, Wen, Sarah Jane Lipura, and Natcharath Phatthanakitjakarn. "Towards an Understanding of Multilingual Investment in Inter-Asia Mobility and Beyond: The Experiences of a Thai International Student at a Chinese University." Towards Student Mobility in Asia, 1st ed., Routledge, 2025.
