Belonging in Uncertain Times: An Ecological Perspective on the Identification of LOTE Majors

This study investigates how Languages Other Than English (LOTE) students negotiate their identification amid growing uncertainties about the value of multilingual learning and language degrees. Drawing on ecological systems theory (EST), it identifies eight influencing factors ranging from microsystem to macrosystem that shape students’ identification. These factors are organised across three interconnected spheres: the individual sphere, shaped by personal interest and symbolic resonance with language and culture; the social sphere, driven by socially valued expectations in academic and career domains; and the relational sphere, grounded in interpersonal connections within the departmental community. Relational belonging—nurtured within inclusive and supportive peer–teacher networks—represents a key stabilising force, fostering students’ identification with the major. By proposing a dynamic model of identification, the study suggests that LOTE programmes should strengthen activities related to identity support and cultural engagement.