A Metaphorical Analysis of Teachers' Perceptions of Teaching in United States and China

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 1:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Beyond Boundaries: Comparative Explorations of Culture, Education, and Identities

Abstract

Drawing from a comparative study on teachers in the United State and China, this study analyzes metaphors as a tool to gain insight into teachers’ conceptualizations of teaching. In response to the statement, “Teaching is like …,” the metaphors generated by the teachers from 11 U.S. and 30 China teachers provided an opportunity to investigate teachers’ reflections on their beliefs and practices. Notably, the metaphors from the teachers in both countries consistently emphasized creative thinking, illustrating how teachers engage in metaphorical transfer to interpret and communicate their teaching practices. The teacher participants’ metaphors revealed a focus on various qualities of teacher professional knowledge and effectiveness.

Authors

• Leslie W. Grant, College of William & Mary

• James H. Stronge, College of William & Mary

• Swathi Menon, College of William & Mary