ERIC Number: EJ1450457
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Dec
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1056-7941
EISSN: EISSN-1949-3533
Consumerist Discourses on Social Media and Language Teacher Educator Identity Tensions
Juyoung Song; Hassan Nejadghanbar
TESOL Journal, v15 n4 e877 2024
This study investigates the impact of social media discourses, espoused by neoliberal and consumerist ideologies, on a language teacher educator's (LTE) identity negotiation. Through a collaborative case study, it examines Hassan's (the second author) experiences with social media in the Iranian English language teaching (ELT) context over three years. The data consist of extensive email discussions and four online meetings between the authors over one year. The analysis of Hassan's narratives reveals dominant social media discourses emphasizing sameness, omniscience, and commercialized luxurious lifestyles. These discourses often equate social media visibility with professional qualifications, pressuring Hassan to conform to trends that conflict with his sense of professionalism and authenticity. Hassan's emotional struggles and identity tensions led to critical reflection and ongoing negotiation of his professional identity. The findings underscore the need for professional development programs that support LTEs in navigating the pressures of self-branding while maintaining their professionalism. Additionally, the study calls for further research into the long-term effects of social media on professional identity and well-being across diverse cultural and institutional contexts.
Descriptors: Consumer Education, Discourse Analysis, Social Media, Language Teachers, Teacher Educators, Foreign Countries, Professional Identity, Neoliberalism, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Teaching Experience, Conflict, Emotional Response, Computer Mediated Communication
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iran
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A