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Informal language learning among adults is a key aspect of wider 21 si century processes of globalization and migration (Norton 2000, Pavlenko and Blackledge 2001). This thesis reports an ethnographic case study of six adult female learners of English as a second language (L2) from different linguistic backgrounds, who have been living continuously in a southern English city for two years on average. The motivation for the study is to explore how gender, identity and social context interrelate and influence the second language learning (SLL) process. The investigation is grounded in a combination of poststructuralist theory and activity theory, with addition of two social psychological theories. Norton's (2000) concept of 'investment' is fundamental, specifically: a) for its application of some of Bourdieu's (1977) concepts to SLL; b) for its inclusion of the L2 learner's feelings and perceptions. From a methodological perspective, Engestrom's (1999) 'activity systems triangle' has been used to identify investment in SLL through activity (i .e. what the learner is doing to achieve her SLL goals and using which artifacts), as well as the social networks and relationships in which the learner is involved. Social psychological theories of identity hierarchisation have been used to further explore the relationship between identity and investment (Turner and Stets 2005) Data collection lasted nine months, and involved a) interviewing (in-depth interviews every six weeks with each of the ladies, plus an interview with their partners; b) participant observation (observations of interactions using English between each lady and others in leisure events); c) testing: Each lady took the computer-adaptive language test DIALANG (AL TE 2007) on two occasions, at the beginning and end of the data collection period. The case study documents the intersection between two sets of interrelated elements linked to the SLL process: on the one hand, the investment the ladies made to acquire English as a form of cultural capital (Bourdieu 1986), meaning their activity using the recourses available to them. Identity was also significantly involved in such processes. On the other hand, the influence of gender in their interactions with English native speakers is also documented, including the role of the participants' partners as mediators between the ladies and the social context. The results show that all the ladies made progress but to differing degrees, and this variation is explained by the interaction between the above mentioned elements

Shortcomings in the design of coupled wall-frame systems according to UBC-88 and ACI 318-89 building codes, and in nonlinear analysis are identified. Discrete element models developed herein and found in the literature are used to idealize wall-frame systems. The walls are idealized by the new model, MASSEM, that represents the axial-flexural resistance of a wall member by five parallel vertical inelastic springs and simulates the shear resistance with a horizontal inelastic spring. The model accounts for two phenomena widely observed in isolated wall tests: (1) extension of the tension side of the wall associated with migration of the neutral axis towards the compression side, and (2) shear yielding of the wall. Load vs. displacement results calculated using MASSEM compared favorably with experimental results from the literature. Also, a simple transverse beam model is proposed to account for some of the three dimensional effects found in wall-frame systems. Analytical studies on a 15-story moderately coupled wall-frame test building designed according to current code provisions indicated that the system modification factor, R$\sb{\rm w}$ = 12, used in UBC-88 for dual systems with SMRSF, is appropriate. However, following the UBC-88 requirements did not prevent large inelastic rotations along the height of the walls and did not prevent high shear stresses at the base of the walls under severe seismic loading. A formula is proposed to estimate the maximum dynamic base shear in order to check wall shear stresses under high seismic load conditions. Four 15-story moderately coupled wall-frame systems that had equal lateral load strengths and fundamental periods, with frames designed to carry 15%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of the design base shear, according to the static approach of UBC-88, were investigated under seismic loading. All four structures satisfied code strength requirements when the walls and frames acted together. It was found that designing the frame to resist 50% of the lateral forces improved seismic response of the test building in terms of lower interstory drifts, lower coupling beam rotational ductilities, better distribution of inelastic rotations among the structural members, and reduction of inelastic column rotations at their base. This ratio is applicable in medium to high rise moderately coupled wall-frame systems.