BOOK REVIEW: Language Teacher Identity Tensions: Nexus of Agency, Emotion, and Investment

This review critically examines Language Teacher Identity Tensions: Nexus of Agency, Emotion, and Investment, edited by Zia Tajeddin and Bedrettin Yazan. The book addresses a significant gap in language teacher identity (LTI) research by exploring the tensions that language teachers face at the intersection of their professional beliefs, instructional practices, and sociocultural contexts. Organized into five sections and featuring fifteen empirical studies across diverse educational settings, the volume investigates how teacher agency, emotion, and investment mediate identity tensions. Drawing on varied theoretical frameworks, including activity theory, positioning theory, and ecological perspectives, the chapters provide nuanced insights into the complex processes of identity construction. This review evaluates the book’s contributions to the LTI field, highlighting its methodological diversity, interdisciplinary reach, and practical relevance for teacher education. While the collection is commendable for its qualitative richness, the absence of quantitative or mixed-methods approaches is noted. Overall, the volume offers a compelling contribution to applied linguistics, making it a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and teacher educators concerned with identity dynamics in language teaching.

کلیدواژه ها:

language teacher identity ، identity tensions ، teacher agency ، emotion in teaching ، language teacher education