Spirituality and English Language Teaching: Religious Explorations of Teacher Identity, Pedagogy and Context

This collection of 16 reflective accounts and data-driven studies explores the interrelationship of religious identity and English Language Teaching (ELT). The chapters broaden a topic which has traditionally focused on Christianity by including Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and non-religious perspectives. They address the ways in which faith and ELT intersect in the realms of teacher identity, pedagogy and the context and content of ELT, and explore a diverse range of geographical contexts, making use of a number of different research methodologies. The book will be of particular interest to researchers in TESOL and EFL, as well as teachers and teacher trainers.

Mary Shepard Wong is a Professor in the Global Studies, Sociology and TESOL Department, Azusa Pacific University, USA. She is the co-editor of Christian Faith and English Language Teaching and Learning (with C. Kristjánsson and Z. Dörnyei, 2013, Routledge) and Christian and Critical English Language Educators in Dialogue (with A.S. Canagarajah, 2009, Routledge).

Ahmar Mahboob / Prof Nomad / Sunny Boy Brumby, born of South Asian refugees and South Asian social, economic, and political oppression, they grew up in exile in the United Arab Emirates, where they were educated not just through conventional schools but also through relationships with artists, poets, journalists, politicians, and writers―all friends of their parents. With them, they had grown to identify oppressive practices in academia and governance. Working on issues of disempowerment and marginalisation and recently abandoning most colonial teachings, they draw on observation, analysis, and practice to develop both their understandings and their own practices.