Ambiguities and Tensions in English Language Teaching

Exploring the ambiguities and tensions EFL teachers face as they attempt to position themselves in ways that legitimize them as language teachers and as English speakers, this book balances descriptive reporting with a theoretical discussion connecting teachers' local concerns and practices to broader issues in TESOL in international contexts.

Peter Sayer is Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Chapter 1: Exploring the contradictions of language teaching Setting the scene Chapter 2: Three English teachers Chapter 3: Squeezing more juice: Portraits of local English teaching in Oaxacan communities Chapter 4: Legitimacy, symbolic competence, and teaching English Chapter 5: So they can defend themselves a little: The meanings and contradictions of teaching English Chapter 6: Hey, take it easy!: Ambivalence and language ideologies Chapter 7: I lasted one day and then I was gone: Performing legitimacy Chapter 8: Conclusions: (Re)legitimizing through tensions and ambiguities