Becoming and Thriving as an EFL Instructor: Exploring Key Factors Contributing to Positive Identity Construction

<p>This mixed methods study delved into the identity construction of English as a foreign language (EFL) instructors in private universities in China through a sequential two-stage exploration. The first stage adopted a 34-item EFL teacher identity questionnaire. Ninety valid responses were collected and subjected to correlation analysis using SPSS. Due to nonnormality in the data, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman’s rho tests were employed to derive referential outcomes. Data analysis revealed teaching experience and overseas experience were not influencing factors, whereas professional title was important in identity construction. Quantitative data provided references to participants’ recruitment and question design in the second stage of in-depth interviews, with 10 EFL instructors participating. The qualitative data results obtained from two rounds of coding corroborated and extended the statistical findings. Teacher Training and Personal Initiative emerged as supporting factors contributing to identity construction; Academic Pressure and Education Reform were identified as hindering factors. A comprehensive overview of the identity construction of EFL instructors was drawn from the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data interpretations. In light of the findings, recommendations were proposed to facilitate the identity development of English instructors in private universities in China. These suggestions include providing rigorous school support, building a research team through mentorship, and enhancing commitment and self-efficacy.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Xia, Weiyi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Douglas Havard, Ph.D.
• Margaret Grogan, Ph.D.
• Mark Maier, Ph.D.

• Identity construction
• EFL instructors
• Mixed methods
• Higher Education and Teaching

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_dissertations/82

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:education_dissertations-1081