Language Teacher Identity Tensions

Language teacher identity has evolved into a predominant theme in teacher education in the last two decades. There is a consensus that teacher identity development is fraught with tensions. When teachers experience identity tensions, they should navigate them by capitalizing on various strategies such as resolving, reducing, or avoiding them. How teachers navigate these tensions hinges on the interplay of teacher personal variables, ecological affordances, and the source, weight, and consequence of tensions. This entry provides insights into the sources of teacher identity tensions, the constructive and disruptive impacts of these tensions, and teachers' strategies for dealing with conflicting positions and negotiating their professional identity. In view of these insights, the entry suggests implications for teachers and teacher education and underlines the urgency to heighten teachers' awareness of identity tensions and equip them with skills to deal with the resulting impacts.