Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage

Although the notion of English language teacher identity has drawn increasing interest in the literature, little is known about how teachers of English construct identities in disadvantaged settings. This study explored how three teachers of English in disadvantaged Chilean public schools construct...

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Main Author: Victor Birkner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas 2024-06-01
Series:Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/calj/article/view/19641
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author Victor Birkner
author_facet Victor Birkner
author_sort Victor Birkner
collection DOAJ
description Although the notion of English language teacher identity has drawn increasing interest in the literature, little is known about how teachers of English construct identities in disadvantaged settings. This study explored how three teachers of English in disadvantaged Chilean public schools construct identities and exercise agency while using prescribed textbooks. The investigation used a narrative inquiry methodology and was positioned within a sociocultural paradigm. Based on semi-structured online interviews, thematic narrative analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The findings suggest that teachers construct various identities as textbook users depending on their previous experience, level of professional development, and interactions with textbooks. According to the research, teachers exercise agency to construct new identities as textbook users by drawing on two temporal aspects that include prior experiences as English language learners and a mental image of the kind of teacher they want to become. Professional development and textbook interaction may also influence the construction of identities regarding textbook use. The article concludes with suggestions for language teachers and English language teacher education.
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publisher Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
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series Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal
spelling doaj-art-1a99c9ebfaf242eca3fe56b159f5f7bd2024-11-28T13:14:32ZengUniversidad Distrital Francisco José de CaldasColombian Applied Linguistics Journal0123-46412248-70852024-06-0126110.14483/22487085.19641Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook UsageVictor Birkner0universidad catolica silva henriquez Although the notion of English language teacher identity has drawn increasing interest in the literature, little is known about how teachers of English construct identities in disadvantaged settings. This study explored how three teachers of English in disadvantaged Chilean public schools construct identities and exercise agency while using prescribed textbooks. The investigation used a narrative inquiry methodology and was positioned within a sociocultural paradigm. Based on semi-structured online interviews, thematic narrative analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The findings suggest that teachers construct various identities as textbook users depending on their previous experience, level of professional development, and interactions with textbooks. According to the research, teachers exercise agency to construct new identities as textbook users by drawing on two temporal aspects that include prior experiences as English language learners and a mental image of the kind of teacher they want to become. Professional development and textbook interaction may also influence the construction of identities regarding textbook use. The article concludes with suggestions for language teachers and English language teacher education. https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/calj/article/view/19641agencymarginalizationprofessional developmenttextbooks English language teacher identity
spellingShingle Victor Birkner
Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage
Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal
agency
marginalization
professional development
textbooks
English language teacher identity
title Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage
title_full Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage
title_fullStr Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage
title_full_unstemmed Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage
title_short Exploring English Language Teacher Identity Construction in Disadvantaged Chilean Schools through Textbook Usage
title_sort exploring english language teacher identity construction in disadvantaged chilean schools through textbook usage
topic agency
marginalization
professional development
textbooks
English language teacher identity
url https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/calj/article/view/19641
work_keys_str_mv AT victorbirkner exploringenglishlanguageteacheridentityconstructionindisadvantagedchileanschoolsthroughtextbookusage