Multidimensional enculturation: The case of an EFL Chinese doctoral student

Li, Yongyan

doi:10.1075/japc.15.1.10li

Article published In: Multiple Perspectives on L1 and L2 Academic Literacy in Asia Pacific and Diaspora Contexts
Edited by Xiaoming Li and Christine Pearson Casanave
[Journal of Asian Pacific Communication 15:1] 2005
► pp. 153–170

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Multidimensional enculturation

The case of an EFL Chinese doctoral student

Yongyan Li | City University of Hong Kong, P. R. China

Published online: 30 June 2005

https://doi.org/10.1075/japc.15.1.10li

The present paper examines the disciplinary enculturation experience of a Chinese doctoral student. I first refer to Lave and Wenger’s (1991) concept of legitimate peripheral participation (LPP) as the theoretical background of this study. I then present the case of Fei, a doctoral student of physics in a major university in East China, focusing on his interactions with specialist texts, the supervisor, and the research community. In the discussion of the findings, I cast Fei’s experience in the light of LPP. I conclude by emphasizing the value of naturalistic case studies in extending English educators’ scope of vision of academic enculturation.

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