Using Metaphor to Explore the Professional Role Identities of Higher Education English Language Instructors

Yeşilbursa A. A. J. A.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol.46, pp.468-472, 2012 (Conference Book) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 46
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.143
  • Journal Name: Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Journal Indexes: ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), MLA - Modern Language Association Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.468-472
  • Keywords: English language teaching, teacher professional role identity, metaphor, Turkish universities, TEACHERS
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

While the teacher professional role identity of pre-service English Language teachers has gained popularity recently, that of practicing teachers is less well-researched. This study aims to reveal how a group of Turkish university English Language instructors (n=35) perceived their professional role identities. To this aim, the participants were asked to describe how they saw their roles as English teachers using a metaphor of their own choice. Content analysis of the metaphors revealed 9 overall themes. The most common theme was 'guide'; followed by 'flexible', 'nurturer', 'nurturer', 'frustrated', and 'authority'; then 'entertainer' and 'challenger'; and finally 'novice' and 'other'. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu