Students’ Narrative Journeys in Learning Communities: Mapping Landscapes of Practice
Daniel Hooper
(Positive Pedagogical Praxis Series)

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Students’ Narrative Journeys in Learning Communities: Mapping Landscapes of Practice by Daniel Hooper offers a unique exploration into how students navigate the often challenging transitions within English education in Japan. Drawing on nearly two decades of teaching experience and detailed research, Hooper dives deep into the complexities of student experiences in self-access learning centers (SALCs) and foreign language classrooms. The book spotlights the narratives of three students, Kei, Sara, and Tenka, whose stories illuminate the diverse ways learners adapt to new environments and reshape their identities as language learners.

This volume bridges the gap between academic theory and practical application, offering educators a roadmap to better understand and support their students during periods of change. By elevating student voices, Students' Narrative Journeys challenges traditional pedagogies and calls for a more inclusive, reflective approach to language education. With a balanced mix of theory and real-life narratives, this book is an essential resource for teachers, researchers, and advisors looking to enhance their understanding of learner agency and self-access learning practices.

Endorsements

"Daniel Hooper’s work is a compelling and compassionate exploration of self-access learning communities in Japanese English education. His detailed analysis and storytelling bring the personal journeys of students to life—making this an invaluable resource for educators and researchers alike. With practical implications and heartfelt student narratives, Hooper encourages us to reconsider how we support learners through transitions. This book is a must-read for those passionate about learner autonomy and transformative educational spaces."

Takaaki Hiratsuka, Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan
"As an avowed ‘pracademic,’ Hooper presents us with a highly accessible text which will offer much to both teachers and researchers. In his presentation of students’ engagement with self-access learning spaces, and the active and transformative role these students play in making these spaces autonomous safehouses for language learners, Hooper’s book reminds us of the importance of listening to and learning from our students."
 
Robert J. Lowe, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
"This engaging and eminently readable monograph foregrounds the narrative journeys of three Japanese learners of English as they construct and finetune a localized university community in which they can use and learn English autonomously. Unearthing the often conflicting beliefs and reframings of these people in light of their past experiences, local constraints and affordances, and memberships of different social groups, Hooper’s work will be of interest to anyone hoping to support learners’ autonomy as they transition between different educational and life contexts."

Richard Sampson, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan

About the author

Daniel Hooper is an associate professor in the Department of English Communication at Tokyo Kasei University. He has been teaching in Japan for 18 years in a variety of contexts including primary/secondary schools, English conversation schools, and universities. His research interests include teacher and learner identity, reflective practice, and communities of practice. He holds a  PhD from Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. His dissertation focused on student-managed learning communities in self-access centers. 

Contents

  • Foreword by Garold Murray
  • Glossary
  • Abbreviations
  • Chapter 1. Introduction

Section 1: Background Information
  • Chapter 2. Not a Blank Slate: English Education in Japan
  • Chapter 3. Social Learning in Self-Access Learning Centers

Section 2: Theoretical Information
  • Chapter 4. Communities, Landscapes, and Liminal Spaces
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Section 3: Learner stories
  • Chapter 5. Not of the People, but for the People: Kei’s Story
  • Chapter 6. Finding a Place to Belong: Sara’s Story
  • Chapter 7. Love Yourself, Then Pass It On - Tenka’s Story
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Section 4: Analysis and Implications
  • Chapter 8. What Do Kei, Sara, and Tenka’s Stories Tell Us?
  • Chapter 9. So What?: Implications for SALC Practice 
  • Chapter 10. What Does This Mean for Foreign Language
    Classes?
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  • Final Thoughts
  • References
  • Appendices

Publication details

Publication date: January, 2025
Print book, $29.99
Ebook: $9.99
​https://doi.org/10.47908/36 
Series: Positive Pedagogical Praxis