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Visualizing EFL teacher identity (re)construction in materials design and implementation

  • Ana Carolina de Laurentiis Brandão

    Lecturer at the State University of Mato Grosso, UNEMAT, Brazil. Currently studying for a PhD in the Department of Applied Linguistics and Communication at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research interests include second language teacher identity, language materials development, teacher development and technology, narrative inquiry and visual methods.

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Abstract

This study visually explores the process of identity (re)construction experienced by a pre-service EFL teacher as she designed and implemented English activities at Brazilian state schools. The theoretical framework draws from language teacher development, and narrative concepts on professional identity, teacher knowledge and context. Visual narratives, contextualized by written and oral narratives, are analysed for their holistic-content, taking into account a critical visual approach and a narrative inquiry methodology. The pre-service EFL teacher, whose experience is the focus of this paper, developed a metaphor to describe her process of identity (re)construction: the invisible English teacher. Stories of designing and implementing her own materials, and being part of different teaching landscapes play an important role in her search for visibility as an English teacher.

About the author

Ana Carolina de Laurentiis Brandão

Lecturer at the State University of Mato Grosso, UNEMAT, Brazil. Currently studying for a PhD in the Department of Applied Linguistics and Communication at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research interests include second language teacher identity, language materials development, teacher development and technology, narrative inquiry and visual methods.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to Tom Morton for his support and suggestions.

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Published Online: 2017-01-21
Published in Print: 2018-05-25

© 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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