This new paper by our Dr Jenifer Ho, published in Learning, Media and Technology, a journal under Taylor & Francis, explores the process of identity construction among online English teachers on YouTube. The study analyses banner images, biographies, and semi-structured interviews of online teachers, and proposes a framework for understanding how online English teachers who teach publicly on YouTube strategically constructs their identities.
The findings reveal that online English teachers on YouTube strategically position themselves within various identity constructs, such as professional teachers and entrepreneurs, to emphasise their unique role as online English teachers. This highlights the fluid and multifaceted nature of identity construction for online teachers as they navigate the complex landscape of the online English language teaching marketplace. The study underscores the need to acknowledge the significant effort online teachers invest in shaping and foregrounding their professional identities. This research also contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the identity work online teachers undertake to legitimise themselves as language teaching professionals in the digital context.
Open access to the article from HERE.
