The EFL Teachers’ Perceptions of Teacher Identity: A Survey of Zhuangang and Non-zhuangang Primary School Teachers in China

Tao Xiong,Xiuzhen Xiong

doi:10.5539/elt.v10n4p100

Abstract

Zhuangang (literally means “transferring post”) English teachers, usually in the primary schools of rural areas in China, refer to the English teachers who used to teach school subjects other than English. Some of them may at the same time still teach other subjects in addition to English. They are a part of the solutions to the shortage of English teachers due to the policy of popularizing English learning in primary schools in China in 2001. Although they account for a large percentage of primary English teachers especially in rural areas in China, relatively little research has been conducted to investigate the status of their professional development and identity. This study is aimed at finding out whether there is a significant difference between zhuangang and non-zhuangang English teachers in their perceptions of teacher identity and if it is the case, what may be the contributing reasons. A questionnaire was allocated and a significant difference (p=0.005) was observed between zhuangang and non-zhuangang English teachers in their perceptions of teacher identity. Implications for enhancing their teacher identity and professional development are also discussed.

Highlights

Zhuangang English Teachers, usually in the primary schools of rural areas in China, refer to the English teachers who used to teach school subjects other than English
Some of them may at the same time still teach other subjects in addition to English. They are a part of the solutions to the shortage of English teachers due to the policy of popularizing English learning in primary schools in China in 2001. They account for a large percentage of primary English teachers especially in rural areas in China, relatively little research has been conducted to investigate the status of their professional development and identity
This paper attempts to explore the demographic profile of zhuangang English teachers in Kaiping, a county in South China’s Guangdong Province and to find out whether there is a significant difference in their perceptions of their teacher identity of being English teachers between zhuangang and non-zhuangang English teachers

Summary

Introduction

Zhuangang (literally means “transferring post”) English Teachers, usually in the primary schools of rural areas in China, refer to the English teachers who used to teach school subjects other than English. According to You’s (2016) study exploring new models of teacher development for zhuanang English teachers in rural areas, zhuangang English teachers still account for 32.5% of the whole group of primary school English teachers of Heyuan city in Guangdong province. This means nowadays there still exist a considerable number of zhuangang English teachers, but research done about them is rarely seen. 36% of zhuangang English teachers at that time were not qualified for that job

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