Beyond classroom phenomena: Exploring Indonesian EFL teachers’ professional identity metaphors

This research sought to explore Indonesian EFL teachers’ professional identity metaphors. Using a multiple case studies design, it involved three teachers in different teaching contexts. Data were collected using questionnaires that gathered the teachers’ professional identity metaphors and in-depth interviews to elicit the reasons for the metaphors. The interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis technique to identify themes in reasons for the metaphors. Then, the metaphors were analysed for their educational orientations. Finally, all the findings were cross-case analysed to identify similarities and differences. The findings show three different metaphors: artist, nurturer, and the sun, along with five themes in the reasons for the metaphors: uniqueness of each English lesson, limited sources of learning, students’ negative stigma about English learning, low student input, and fun English learning. Cross-case analysis shows that some themes were shared among the teachers. However, all the metaphors were learnercentred growth oriented.