EFL teachers’ identity (re)construction as teachers of intercultural competence: a language socialization approach

Abstract

Adapting Norton’s (2000) notion of investment as an analytical lens along with thematic analysis, this longitudinal/narrative inquiry explores how 2 EFL teachers’ language socialization in the United States resulted in an identity (re)construction as teachers of intercultural competence. Baris and Serkan’s language socialization in the United States was marked with 3 identity investments: as an experienced EFL teacher, as an L2 user, and as a burgeoning scholar. The findings highlighted that teacher identities are not unitary, fixed, or stable but dynamic, situated, multiple (e.g., Norton Peirce, 1995; Varghese, Morgan, Johnston, & Johnson, 2005), and even sometimes blurred (e.g., Ochs, 1993).