Emerging intercultural identity in the Turkish EFL context

Abstract

The paper argues that for individuals to develop intercultural identity, they do not necessarily need to experience intercultural experiences. A questionnaire devised by the author is administered to 227 Turkish learners of English aged 19-23. The findings of self-reported responses to a 37-item questionnaire as well as the qualitative data reveal that learners feel they have a slightly different identity and that English is an asset, a passport to a world of new experiences in socialization and cross-cultural communication. The paper concludes that it is legitimate to speak of intercultural identity in the absence of direct contact with L2 community