Presentation Learning from Various Directions: The Emergence of Language Leaner Agency in an Affinity Space more

Affinity spaces (Gee, 2004) are communities which arise through some shared interest, in which the informal learning that occurs is not constrained or directed by the imbalances of knowledge, ability, or power that underlie institutional learning. This presentation, based on a case study of agency in self-directed language learning, will explore how Hiroaki, a Japanese university student, enacted agency through his participation in an affinity space focused on members' shared interest in manga and anime. The community was internationally dispersed and primarily communicated in English via social media platforms like Twitter (X) Spaces and Line. Data from a series of semi-structured, stimulated recall interviews, as well as from learner logs and written reflections, were analyzed through thematic content analysis using both inductive and deductive coding. Despite his low English proficiency, Hiroaki successfully built and maintained relationships within the group, thereby generating multiple affordances for developing his language skills and intercultural competence. This process further enhanced his agency, supporting a view of agency as primarily relational rather than individual in nature (Burkitt, 2016). The presentation will highlight key implications for language learning pedagogy and will outline possible strategies for fostering learners’ relational agency.