Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators
This article presents a series of practitioner-focused identity “snapshots” drawn from interviews with experienced teachers of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) working in Australian schools. It supports pre-service and early-career EAL/D educators in understanding the lived real...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Castledown Publishers
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.castledown.com/journals/ajal/article/view/102764 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839630895866183680 |
|---|---|
| author | Joshua Matthews |
| author_facet | Joshua Matthews |
| author_sort | Joshua Matthews |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This article presents a series of practitioner-focused identity “snapshots” drawn from interviews with experienced teachers of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) working in Australian schools. It supports pre-service and early-career EAL/D educators in understanding the lived realities of Australian EAL/D teaching through thematically organised insights based on teachers’ personal narratives and reflections. Based on interviews exploring personal experiences, classroom practices, and sociopolitical contexts, five key identity themes were identified: (1) personal background shapes teaching identity, (2) teaching is deeply student-centred, (3) institutional and policy challenges impact classroom practice, (4) emotional labour is a significant part of the job, and (5) EAL/D teachers often become advocates. These snapshots offer accessible, authentic accounts of Australian EAL/D teaching, designed to support reflective practice and professional learning in teacher education programs. Accompanied by a practical identity reflection toolkit, they translate teacher narratives into structured, applied learning. Addressing a gap in Australian EAL/D research, the study centres teacher voice through thematically organised practitioner accounts purpose-built to scaffold identity work in teacher preparation.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d971ba4b7d8549b9a46f90d4265aa112 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2209-0959 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Castledown Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics |
| spelling | doaj-art-d971ba4b7d8549b9a46f90d4265aa1122025-07-13T02:42:06ZengCastledown PublishersAustralian Journal of Applied Linguistics2209-09592025-07-018510.29140/ajal.v8n5.102764Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators Joshua Matthews0University of New England This article presents a series of practitioner-focused identity “snapshots” drawn from interviews with experienced teachers of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) working in Australian schools. It supports pre-service and early-career EAL/D educators in understanding the lived realities of Australian EAL/D teaching through thematically organised insights based on teachers’ personal narratives and reflections. Based on interviews exploring personal experiences, classroom practices, and sociopolitical contexts, five key identity themes were identified: (1) personal background shapes teaching identity, (2) teaching is deeply student-centred, (3) institutional and policy challenges impact classroom practice, (4) emotional labour is a significant part of the job, and (5) EAL/D teachers often become advocates. These snapshots offer accessible, authentic accounts of Australian EAL/D teaching, designed to support reflective practice and professional learning in teacher education programs. Accompanied by a practical identity reflection toolkit, they translate teacher narratives into structured, applied learning. Addressing a gap in Australian EAL/D research, the study centres teacher voice through thematically organised practitioner accounts purpose-built to scaffold identity work in teacher preparation. https://www.castledown.com/journals/ajal/article/view/102764EAL/D teacher identityAustralian educationthematic analysispre-service teachersteacher voiceprofessional learning |
| spellingShingle | Joshua Matthews Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics EAL/D teacher identity Australian education thematic analysis pre-service teachers teacher voice professional learning |
| title | Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators |
| title_full | Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators |
| title_fullStr | Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators |
| title_short | Snapshots of teacher identity in English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) education in Australia: Insights for pre-service educators |
| title_sort | snapshots of teacher identity in english as an additional language or dialect eal d education in australia insights for pre service educators |
| topic | EAL/D teacher identity Australian education thematic analysis pre-service teachers teacher voice professional learning |
| url | https://www.castledown.com/journals/ajal/article/view/102764 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joshuamatthews snapshotsofteacheridentityinenglishasanadditionallanguageordialectealdeducationinaustraliainsightsforpreserviceeducators |