Modes of acculturation and second language proficiency.

Examined links between 2nd language acquisition and acculturation and cultural identity in 102 Chinese students attending a Canadian university. Ss completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes and aspects of proficiency in English (PIE) and were assessed for oral PIE. A factor analysis of the relationships among these variables yielded 5 factors: linguistic identification, identification with another community, fear of assimilation, maintenance of the Chinese culture, and desire to learn English. Attitudinal variables and indices of ethnic identification related to aspects of PIE. While PIE was closely linked with a sense of identity, identification with the 2nd language community (and PIE) did not necessarily imply assimilation. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)