Navigating Cultural Divides: The Learning, Practices, and Beliefs of Novice Indonesian Teachers of English

• In Event: 45.093 - MTCC Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: 45.093-7 - Teacher Identity and Beliefs in the Education of Emergent Bilinguals

Abstract

Language education prepares students to engage with people from different cultures, an essential skill in the ‘post-truth’ era. In some contexts, such as Indonesia, language teachers are also expected to uphold local cultural values. To learn more about these dual demands, this qualitative case study investigates the learning, beliefs and practices of novice Indonesian English teachers regarding teaching about culture. Findings indicate that teachers have few opportunities to learn about how to teach about culture, and that they rarely address culture in their classrooms. This study’s implications reveal a need for teacher education programs to provide more concrete guidance about how to teach about culture. With stronger preparation, teachers might more effectively prepare students to engage across difference.

Author

• Tabitha Kidwell, University of Maryland - College Park