Identity reconstruction of an in-service teacher as a critical bilingual: an autoethnography

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose This study presents the emergence of my dynamic bilingualism-induced critical bilingual identity by drawing upon Garcia and Wei’s translanguaging perspectives. Design/Methodology/Approach I adopted an autoethnographic approach focusing on teacher development through research and practice, supported by research on fostering dynamic bilingualism of emergent bilinguals in EFL contexts, which is used to review my memories and reflection. Using bilingualism ideologies as a conceptual framework, I interpret my experiences by deconstructing dominant monolingual ideology through embracing a more critical bilingual stance. Findings By enacting autoethnography as translanguaged research anchored to theoretical, methodological, and pedagogical turns, this study reveals its potential to conceptualize the complexities of translanguaging and thus forge these into a coherent ideology. Originality/Value With an open-ended paradigm, and its catalytic role in comprehending speaker-oriented language practices, it thus engenders criticality. This autoethnographic analysis of my introspective and retrospective data is hoped to open novel vistas for EFL teacher education and in-service EFL teacher training.