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

Document Type : Book Review

Authors

1 School of Foreign Languages, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China

2 School of Foreign Languages， Jiangsu University of Science and Technology，Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research
Volume 13, 3 (Special Issue)
December 2025
Pages 227-230

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 12 December 2025

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