Professional Teacher Identity: Methodological Alternatives for Qualitative Research

Abstract

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pre-service teacher’s identity is a process where language, as an object of study, is a tool in the mediation for scaffolding the identity of future teachers. Identity construction is not an isolated process. Instead, it is the result of a continuous and social process that embraces a variety of factors and the tension of diverse forces, struggles, and adjustments that the individual deals with. In the last two decades, an increasing number of qualitative studies focused on EFL teachers’ professional identity have appeared. To identify how professional identity is constructed, it must be understood as a product of discourse, practice, and relationships. Moreover, identity is developed through the stories (narratives) describing life encounters that have shaped who they are as teachers. Both discourse and narratives help teachers define and redefine themselves as professionals through the meaning they give to their lived experiences. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to address discourse and narratives as two research perspectives to investigate EFL pre-service teachers’ professional identity. First, the link between qualitative and identity studies is presented. Then, discourse analysis and narratives as methodological alternatives are introduced. Finally, implications and reflections for teacher education are discussed.