Willingness to Communicate, Multilingualism and Interactions in Community Contexts

Reviews / Votes

This is an outstanding report of qualitative longitudinal case studies that illuminate L2/L3 WTC development in immigrant women. Momentary fluctuations in WTC are zoomed in on and then out to showcase stories embedded in macro-social contexts. The expansion of the WTC Model to multilingual 3D graphics is a stimulating addition to WTC literature. * Tomoko Yashima, Kansai University, Japan * Using a longitudinal case study methodology, Henry and MacIntyre take us on a deep dive into their participants' stories of communication in out-of-school community settings. Our reward is a new understanding of WTC as a truly complex and probabilistic phenomenon, and a renewed appreciation of why we need Complex Dynamic Systems Theory to understand it. * Phil Benson, Macquarie University, Australia * Based on a longitudinal study of immigrants in Sweden, Henry and MacIntyre propose a revised pyramid model of WTC which takes into account different languages learners may draw upon, as well as emphasizing the impact of situational demands and broader context. The book opens up new avenues in research on WTC and is a must-read for scholars interested in this ID variable. * Miroslaw Pawlak, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland * This book stands as a crucial and timely contribution to L2 WTC research, distinguished by its innovative theoretical frameworks and rich empirical evidence accumulated in multilingual contexts. It offers a valuable reference for both experienced and emerging researchers, as well as graduate students researching individual differences in L2 learning, especially those utilizing QL methodologies. Furthermore, the challenges faced by adult language learners in various contexts revealed in this book may inspire potential strategies to enhance WTC in the target language to support smoother acculturation and adaptation in an increasingly fluid and mobilized era. * Zhuofeng Lin and Jian-E Peng, Shantou University, China, System 122, 2024 *