This volume examines the agency of second/foreign language teachers in diverse geographical contexts and in both K-12 and adult education. It offers new understandings and conceptualizations of second/foreign language teacher agency through a variety of types of empirical data. It also demonstrates the use of different methodologies or analytic tools to study the multidimensional, dynamic and complex nature of second/foreign language teacher agency. The chapters draw on a range of theories and approaches to language teacher agency (including ecological theory, positioning theory, complexity theory and actor-network theory) that expand our understanding of the concept, while at the same time presenting various analytic approaches such as discourse studies and narrative inquiry. The chapters also analyze the connection of agency to other relevant topics, such as teacher identity, emotions, positioning and autonomy.

Employing a mixed-method approach, the book investigates the psychology of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in the online teaching environment in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, questionnaires were conducted on Chinese EFL teachers to explore the profiles of EFL teachers’ anxiety, self-efficacy, buoyancy and engagement. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were used to demystify their psychological growth in the dynamic interaction with ecological environments, thus constructing an ecological model of EFL teacher psychology in online teaching. The book provides new insights into EFL teacher psychology and theoretical references for building a functional ecosystem for the professional development of EFL teachers. The book will be of interest to researchers in teacher psychology, language teachers and practitioners, especially those working in the complex technology-based educational environment, and policy makers in foreign language education.

This book offers insights into the lived experiences (e.g., teaching, research, and practicum supervision) of TESOL teacher educators in diverse institutional and socio-cultural contexts. Informed by a situated, ecological perspective, it draws on a variety of research approaches (e.g., qualitative, action research, and self-study), and sheds light on how language teacher educators engage in daily practice and social interactions. This edited collection examines how TESOL educators cope with potential contextual obstacles (e.g., the theory-practice divide), and how they seek their continuing professional development in complex, shifting higher education settings. The book offers critical and thoughtful reflections of current practice and policies in language education and higher education, and provides practical implications on the preparation and development of frontline language teachers.

This state-of-the-art volume is the first to capture a hybrid discipline that studies the role and linguistic implications of the human mind in language learning and teaching. This Handbook considers individual as well as collective factors in language learners and teachers from an array of new empirical constructs and theoretical perspectives, including implications for practice and “myths, debates, and disagreements” in the field, and points to future directions for research. This collection of stellar contributions is an essential resource for researchers, advanced students, and teachers working in applied linguistics, second language acquisition, psychology, and education.

This book brings together the current theory, research and practical perspectives from different parts of the world on language teacher identity in an attempt to better understand the nature of identities teachers in different contexts develop. By linking theory to pedagogy, the book examines how second language teacher identities are shaped and explores the various links between teacher identities and variables that affect the formation of identities. Theory and Practice in Second Language Teacher Identity includes a foreword by Jack Richards (University of Sydney and RELC), an afterword by Peter de Costa (Michigan State University) and holds 20 invited chapters by established and active scholars and teacher educators to discuss the various aspects of in-service and pre-service second language teacher identity development. It also addresses the way the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted teacher identities and examines under-researched issues, such as the intersection between gender and race in second language teacher identity development and identity construction in second languages other than English. What does it mean to be a teacher of English as a second language in an age of globalization, new media, technological revolution and de-institutionalized knowledge? How do teachers gain pre-service and in-service expertise, a sense of professional identity, and educational integrity? And how have they dealt with the extra-burden imposed by the pandemic? This thought-provoking volume offers valuable perspectives on these important issues in the professional development of English teachers worldwide. — Prof. Claire Kramsch, University of California, Berkeley, USA. The way we see ourselves and are seen by others influences our social and professional interactions. Teacher identity and sense of agency is therefore not merely a matter of research interest for it impacts learners and learning, which makes the topic of this book extremely important. With chapters located in a wide range of countries – from USA to Australia via UAE, Thailand and others – and drawing on a variety of research methods, the book synthesizes extant research and develops many new research avenues. It does so not only with theory in mind but with practical lessons for teachers and teacher educators and thus becomes an essential volume for our libraries and studies. — Prof. Michael Byram, University of Durham, UK. In this compelling collection, co-edited by Karim Sadeghi and Farah Ghaderi, the authors address key questions about language teacher identity in contemporary applied linguistics: What is the relationship between language teacher identity and language teacher agency? To what extent does ideology impact language teacher identity? How do language teachers navigate an increasingly globalized and unequal world? Authors from different regions of the world draw on diverse methodologies to share insightful research on both pre-service and in-service language teacher identity, making an important contribution to applied linguistics and TESOL at a time of great social and educational change. — Prof. Bonny Norton (FRSC), University Killam Professor and Distinguished University Scholar, University of British Columbia, Canada. “Theory and Practice in Second Language Teacher Identity” captures recent thinking about language teacher identity. The broad array of excellent chapter contributions explores multiple dimensions of identity, from teacher agency and emotions to the disruptive effects of the Covid pandemic on teachers’ professional lives and practices. The studies draw on a number of theoretical perspectives and demonstrate the use of both familiar and innovative research methodologies. The relevant topics, the up-to-date bibliographic sources, and the useful research findings make this edited volume an essential addition to your bookshelf. — Prof. Gary Barkhuizen, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) sits at the nexus of constant change, which makes it vitally important for language teachers to engage in continuous development and keep abreast of the sociopolitical milieu in which they are embedded. However, most teacher education activities are often associated with what is perceived as best practices that are expected to be adopted (often uncritically) for classroom application and practice, with the intention of training teachers to become technicians in their respective classrooms. In reality, TESOL practitioners often find themselves in situations that require them to be reflexive practitioners and to negotiate sites of political struggles and social injustice. Given that a socially situated understanding of TESOL teacher education is often overlooked, this volume highlights the sociopolitical dimensions of TESOL teacher education. In Part 1, the authors introduce the theoretical underpinnings of the sociopolitical agenda proposed by this volume. Building on these theories, Part 2 realizes the proposed agenda by situating it within actual TESOL teacher education contexts that are characterized by power imbalances and neoliberally inflected educational injustices.

Little is known about how language teacher educators become, and also develop professionally as, teachers of teachers. One avenue for teacher education professional development is that of teacher research, whereby teacher educators can not only improve their practices in their immediate context but also help develop transformative pedagogies in wider contexts by sharing their research. This volume aims to understand how language teacher educators around the world continue developing professionally by examining their own teaching practices. It seeks to understand the professional gains teacher educators see in conducting research with their own students/future teachers; to promote knowledge democratisation by including teacher educators from under-represented contexts such as Latin America and Africa; to examine language teacher educators’ motivations to write for publication; and to reduce the gap between educational research and educational practice in BA and MA programmes in language teaching.

In this concise and practical book, Martel advocates for a content-based approach to foreign language curriculum design that emphasizes communicative competence, cognitive engagement, and social justice. Intended primarily for busy teachers with limited preparation time, the book includes: An introduction to content-based instruction and its use to date in foreign language education Step-by-step strategies for designing content-based unit plans, lesson plans, and assessments A complete curricular unit that serves as a guiding example, including nine lesson plans and a summative assessment The book is accompanied by a website that will feature additional examples of content-based curricular materials across a range of languages and proficiency levels, available at http://cbi.middcreate.net/movingbeyond.

This book fills a critical gap in a neglected area in current educational research: international teacher education. It focuses on the preparation of teachers of English as an additional language (EAL) in several world regions. The book consists of chapters by researchers in well-established teacher education programs in 11 countries: Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Greece, New Zealand, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey and the United States of America. It takes a cross-national, comparative approach around four major focus areas: policy, research, curriculum and practice, offering critical implications that can help improve EAL teacher education programs in different parts of the world. Teacher education is an area that has great potential for international cross-pollination of ideas and actions, and this book represents an important first step along this road.

Through insiders’ perspectives and narratives, this edited collection provides insight into the lived experiences of recent graduates of various English Applied Linguistics and/or TESOL doctoral programs in North America. The authors document how their personal and professional identities intersected during their doctoral studies and how these doctoral programs, as learning environments, supported them in their professional development and dissertation research. As such, their insider perspectives and narratives are of special value to those contemplating pursuing such a program, or are in progress towards their own degree, as well as the faculty members who advise and support these doctoral students. Chapters focus on topics immediately relevant to success and persistence in a doctoral program, such as developing a network of mentors, establishing a work-life balance, and professional socialization, among others. All authors are recent graduates of their programs who have been intentionally selected for their recent memories in navigating the process. At a time when doctoral program persistence declines at the intersection of students’ gender and racial background (see Okahana & Zhou, 2019) there is a pressing need to share the insights and lived experiences of those less commonly featured in narratives of the successful doctoral scholar. This need is especially true among TESOL professionals who will teach and learn in diverse, global settings throughout their careers following their graduation. This book contributes to that need, and it is an essential resource for scholars in TESOL/English Applied Linguistics and other similar doctoral programs.