Intersectionality and the Discursive Construction of English Teacher Identities in Japan

An impressive work, both methodologically and theoretically, which brings clear novelties to the flourishing field of language teacher identity research.
This book aims to disrupt the native-speaker/non-native-speaker binary through a study of the construction of English teacher identities in Japan. The book suggests that macro discourses in the Japanese context, as well as institutional processes, are powerful forces in perpetuating native-speakerist discourses and ascribing identity labels.
However, in self-identification and in interactions with students, the results are found to be more nuanced, with a complex picture of identity construction emerging that questions the binary nature of the "native speaker/non-native speaker" duality. This complexity rests on the intersectional nature of identity construction and highlights the importance of taking into account the intersectionality of a variety of identity markers when researching language teacher identity.

About the author

Luke Lawrence is an Assistant Professor in the College of Commerce at Nihon University in Japan. He has written widely on identity, intersectionality and translanguaging in the ELT field and is the co-editor of two edited books: Lowe, R. J. & Lawrence, L. (Eds.) (2020). Duoethnography in English language teaching: Research, reflection and classroom application, published by Multilingual Matters, and Mielick, M., Kubota, R., & Lawrence, L. (Eds.) (2023) Discourses of identity in Japan: Language learning, teaching, and revitalizing perspectives, published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Product details

• Authors: Luke Lawrence
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 14.04.2026
• EAN: 9781800419483
• ISBN: 978-1-80041-948-3
• No. of pages: 176
• Series: Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Theoretical psychology; Japan, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Minority Studies, PSYCHOLOGY / Personality, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Study & Teaching, The self, ego, identity, personality, Psychology: the self, ego, identity, personality, Social discrimination & inequality, East Asia, Far East, Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies, Language teaching theory & methods, Language teaching theory and methods, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Discrimination, Racism and racial discrimination / Anti-racism, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General