Journey to the West: acknowledging intersectionality: An autoethnographic study of a Chinese English teacher's career from Hong Kong to Germany

Chan, Jason (2023) Journey to the West: acknowledging intersectionality: An autoethnographic study of a Chinese English teacher's career from Hong Kong to Germany. Ed.D thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Issues of inequalities persist in the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) despite acknowledgment and discussions of outdated, prejudicial practices. The goal of this dissertation is to show that acknowledging discrimination in TEFL is not enough to rectify the problems Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs) face. In the form of an autoethnographic study of the career of an English teacher of Chinese background spanning almost two decades and two continents, this dissertation aimed to show the intersectional nature of the discriminations NNESTs face within the professional setting. More importantly, this dissertation aimed to highlight those said discriminations are reflections of greater societal attitudes by showing how the discrimination the author experienced in TEFL intersects with the discrimination he encounters in everyday life in Germany. In order to create a more just professional environment in TEFL, research that builds on the lived experiences of NNESTs is absolutely essential. The experiences lived by the author and subsequently shared and analyzed in this dissertation should: serve as a bridge that fills the gap between the professional and personal spheres of ‘International English Teachers’, increase awareness of the problems NNESTs face, and encourage NNESTs to speak out against unjust treatments by sharing their own lived experiences in both their professional and adopted private environments.

• Item Type: Thesis (Ed.D)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: L Education > LC Special aspects of education
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Supervisor's Name: Maitra, Dr. Saikat and Zacharias, Dr. Sally
• Date of Award: 2023
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2023-84015
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 08 Jan 2024 14:30
• Last Modified: 08 Jan 2024 14:32
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.84015
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/84015