Play and Imagination in Developing Language Teacher Identity-in-Activity

Autores

  • Paula Golombek University of Florida
  • Patrick Klager University of Florida

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-8026.2015v68n1p17

Resumo

Teacher identity and practice have been characterized as being inextricably linked, highlighting the need for L2 teacher educators to support the development of novice teacher identity and the practices that align with it. Informed by a sociocultural perspective on teacher learning (Johnson, 2009), this study traces the development of the identity of a novice teacher as he grapples with a tension while teaching an advanced grammar class. By conducting a narrative inquiry (Johnson & Golombek, 2002), he identiied a contradiction between his identity-in-activity (Cross, 2006), expressed through the image of the ‘grammar inquisitor’ teaching to the test and the communication-focused instructor he aspired to be. His narrative inquiry created a mediational space in which he could ‘play’ with images, as well as academic concepts that had been introduced in a graduate course on genrebased instruction, and ‘imagine’ a more satisfying identity-in-activity, expressed as ‘synergy’ in a curriculum unit he designed for his grammar class.

Biografia do Autor

Paula Golombek, University of Florida

Paula Golombek is Clinical Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Florida, where she also supervises the undergraduate Certiicate in TESL Program. Paula’s interests include Vygotskian sociocultural theory in both the practices of and research on language teacher development, especially the role of both narrative inquiry and emotions in teacher learning. 

Patrick Klager, University of Florida

Patrick Klager is an instructor at the University of Florida’s English language Institute, where he teaches academic and conversational English. Patrick is also the Center for Teaching and Learning in China’s TEFL Trainer, where he trains native English speakers to be foreign teachers in Shenzhen, China. His pedagogical interests include teacher education, TESOL education, and creating educational materials through genre analysis. 

Publicado

2015-06-29