This study explores the link between English language learning and socially constructed identities of six
students preparing for university transfer. To this end, all the research participants were interviewed with
semi-structured questions. By the analysis of the transcribed manuscripts, three features of their social
identities were explicitly revealed. Firstly, they regarded themselves as a failed examinee mostly because
they failed one of the most high-stakes test, College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in Korea. Secondly,
they were so ashamed of their affiliation of continuing education program that they deny their belonged
status. Thirdly, they were also marginalized at home by other family members. Although these dominant
identities conditioned their negative attitude toward English learning or test prep process, some of them
still positively positioned themselves as legitimate learners, through the past learning experience or imagined
want-to-be ideal selves. The result implies that the consideration of learners’ identity construction should be
invited in the curriculum of English language teaching, especially for the students who failed college
entrance exams, and who are preparing for university transfer.