YII TYNG LEE (UNIVERSITY MALAYA)

EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF ESL TEACHER’S RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY IN MALAYSIA : TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This article addresses a notable gap in the literature on language teacher identity (LTI) by delving into the impact of religious identity on ESL teachers' professional identity, a dimension often overlooked in research. Despite the increasing exploration of LTI formation in diverse dimensions such as ethnicity, race, culture, and gender, religious identity remains under-discussed. Employing the concept of "transidentiying," this study investigates the dynamic nature of ESL teachers' identity through a multiple case study design in the unique context of Malaysia. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis to explore how ESL teachers navigate their professional identity within the framework of local religious beliefs. The findings illuminate that ESL teachers engage in transidentiying processes, adjusting and negotiating their identities based on religious beliefs in various circumstances. These adjustments mirror shifts in roles, social relationships, affinities, stances, meanings, and intentions. This study contributes to our understanding of ESL teacher professional identity by shedding light on the intricate interplay between religious identity and professional identity. The insights gained from exploring this intersection in the Malaysian context can inform researchers and educators about the complexities of ESL teacher professional identity in multicultural settings. This study aims to enhance the understanding of educators' professional identities in a multicultural and diverse region like Asia by considering and including religious identity into debates on language teacher identity.

Lee Yii Tyng Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education University Malaya Lee Yii Tyng is currently pursuing her PhD in education at University Malaya, majoring in TESL. Her research interests include: TESL, teacher identity and teacher professional development.