"I'll do it in my own class": novice language teacher identity construction in Turkey. Issue 3 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goktepe, Fatma Tokoz; Kunt, Naciye
• Is Part Of: Asia Pacific journal of education. Volume 41:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 472
• Page End: 487
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Identity construction -- imagined identity -- imposed identity -- longitudinal case study -- mismatched mentorship -- novice teacher; Education -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Education -- Asia -- Periodicals; Education and state -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Education and state -- Asia -- Periodicals; Education -- Social aspects -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Education -- Social aspects -- Asia -- Periodicals; 370.95952
• DOI: 10.1080/02188791.2020.1815648
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0218-8791

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper reports a longitudinal case study exploring the identity construction of a novice English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher in Turkey. The study applies sociocultural and post-structural approaches to teacher education and identity formation. It traces the teacher's experiences of becoming and being a teacher drawing upon her reflective teaching narratives, her teaching diary, semi-structured interviews, and the researchers' observation notes. The findings suggest that some features of the induction programmes may negatively affect the novice teachers' construction of a language teacher identity (LTI). Specifically, the negative effect is due to not allowing trainees to experiment or apply their pedagogical perspective in the classroom, or to participate in the classroom on equal levels with their mentor-teachers. The study presents a model that explicates how the LTIs of novice teachers shift from being an imagined to an imposed identity shaped by various constructs: beliefs about teaching and learning, pre-service education, dynamic relations in communities of practice, and contextual factors. The implications for further research are discussed to address LTI construction in EFL contexts.