Recent studies have found that research in the field of foreign language education in Mexico is s... more Recent studies have found that research in the field of foreign language education in Mexico is scarce and lacking in rigor. Very little is known, however, of how teachers think of or understand research. Understanding teachers' conceptions of research is central for the development of informed strategies to promote teacher research engagement and meet the demands of higher education policy. This study examined the conceptions of research held by two Mexican teachers of English with graduate degrees. Conceptions are different ways of understanding. E-mail survey data were analyzed using phenomenographic methodology. Four conceptions of research were identified: (A) research as a process of discovery; (B) research as a procedure to confirm preconceived ideas or theories; (C) research related to publishing; and (D) research related to people. By demonstrating variation in how research is conceived, the data obtained provide a basis for understanding participants' different orientation to research output and achievements. The findings reported in this paper reveal aspects of research that, although not evident, influence research practice.
PROFILE Issues in Teachers' Professional Development, 2014
This article analyzes the professional development of two English language teachers in a Mexican ... more This article analyzes the professional development of two English language teachers in a Mexican language center. In particular, it explores the interplay between professional development, identity and agency, and the part played by English language teaching certificates in all of these. Drawing on a case study methodology, which included the use of a series of three interviews and other qualitative data collection methods, the article demonstrates the intimate and intricate connection between teachers' identities and their professional development. Education implications for policy makers and practitioners are discussed.
This comparative study examines the learning trajectories of two
groups of Mexican novice languag... more This comparative study examines the learning trajectories of two groups of Mexican novice language teachers, three locally raised and educated ones and three repatriates from the USA. The study makes use of a combination of retrospective life-history research and the analysis of academic documents to look at the interrelationship between teachers’ identities and their degree of investment in academic and professional activities. The analysis revealed marked differences in the ways in which these two groups of teachers’ identities have been developed. While the locally educated teachers have constructed strong and articulated identities as a result of a stable family context and smooth transitions in their lives, the development of their returnee counterparts’ identities has been characterized by fragmentation due to the little, or lack of, stability in their home contexts as well as the complex and painful transitions in their lives. The paper discusses the impact that these differences have on participants’ degrees of investment in educational and work-related opportunities available to them in their contexts. Implications for researchers, language teacher trainers and applied linguistics academic program administrators are provided.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in... more The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in Mexican cotnexts. In particualr, it expores the ways in which diverse social and political factors hamper the successful implementation of national and institutional ELT policies. Drawing on a case study carried put throughout a period of five years, the paper uses three situations to illustrate the ways in which institutional efforts to promote English language teaching are deviated at some point in their developmental stages. The paper concludes by emphasizing the value of research to raise ELT practitioners' awareness of the challenges that the profession faces and proposing ways of overcoming them.
Este estudio presenta la trayectoria profesional de dos profesoras de lengua inglesa, adscritas a... more Este estudio presenta la trayectoria profesional de dos profesoras de lengua inglesa, adscritas a la Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, mediante el uso de narrativas autobiográfi cas. En particular, el artículo examina el impacto que el contexto social y educativo tiene en la formación de la agencia e identidad profesional de las participantes. El trabajo concluye resaltando la importancia de entender la naturaleza de la agencia que cada profesor posee para el ejercicio de la práctica pedagógica y un desarrollo docente congruente. También destaca las bondades de la autobiografía como estrategia metodológica ya que permite desarrollar una mejor comprensión de la forma en que se construyen y reconstruyen las identidades profesionales de las profesoras; en tanto a las participantes les posibilita establecer una relación más activa y refl exiva con sus experiencias pasadas y presentes.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in... more The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in Mexican contexts. In particular, it explores the ways in which diverse social and political factors hamper the successful implementation of national and institutional ELT policies. Drawing on a case study carried out throughout a period of five years, the paper uses three situations to illustrate the ways in which institutional efforts to promote English language teaching are deviated at some point in their developmental stages. The paper concludes by emphasizing the value of research to raise ELT practitioners' awareness of the challenges that the profession faces and proposing ways of overcoming them.
L'objectif de cette étude fut celui d'explorer l'identité des étudiants universitaires Mexicains ... more L'objectif de cette étude fut celui d'explorer l'identité des étudiants universitaires Mexicains de Linguistique Appliquée, en tant qu'auteurs de textes en anglais. Nous avons analysé l'utilisation de pronoms en première personne et la forme dont les participants ont conceptualisé leur identité en tant qu'auteurs de ces essais. L'emploi d'une combinaison d'analyse textuelle et d'entretiens basée sur le discours. Les résultats montrent que les participants ayant utilisé amplement les pronoms en première personne ont fait cet exercice plus pour présenter des expériences personnelles, que pour projeter une forte identité d'auteur. En revanche, ceux qui les ont utilisés moins, ont projeté une identité d'auteur forte à travers l'utilisation d'une variété de ressources linguistiques. L'utilisation de pronoms en première personne n'est pas essentielle pour le développement d'une identité d'auteur forte. Il faudrait que l'éducation supérieure offre plus d'opportunités et de ressources afin que les apprenants projettent une plus forte présence d'auteur dans les textes qu'ils écrivent en anglais.
La revista está indexada en los directorios: LATINDEX, REDALYC, IRESIE, CLASE, DIALNET, DOAJ, E-R... more La revista está indexada en los directorios: LATINDEX, REDALYC, IRESIE, CLASE, DIALNET, DOAJ, E-REVIST@S, La revista está incluida en los sitios: REDIE, RINACE, OEI, MAESTROTECA, PREAL, HUASCARAN, CLASCO Los contenidos de este artículo están bajo una licencia Creative Commons Revista Electrónica "Actualidades Investigativas en Educación" _____________________________________________________________Volumen 10, Número 1, Año 2010,
The professional development (PD) of language teachers plays a pivotal role in the improvement of... more The professional development (PD) of language teachers plays a pivotal role in the improvement of teaching-learning processes and educational institutions. Mexico's National Programme for the Improvement of Higher Education Teaching Staff (PROMEP), the National Education Programme, and State Education Development Plans hold similar ideas. Language centres that are part of state universities have therefore encouraged the professional development of their teaching faculties. This presentation reports the results of a study on professional development carried out at the North-East Language Centre in Mexico 1 . The researcher will outline the impact that the Centre's particular approach to professional development has on the faculty's preferences, beliefs and professional identities.
Recent studies have found that research in the field of foreign language education in Mexico is s... more Recent studies have found that research in the field of foreign language education in Mexico is scarce and lacking in rigor. Very little is known, however, of how teachers think of or understand research. Understanding teachers' conceptions of research is central for the development of informed strategies to promote teacher research engagement and meet the demands of higher education policy. This study examined the conceptions of research held by two Mexican teachers of English with graduate degrees. Conceptions are different ways of understanding. E-mail survey data were analyzed using phenomenographic methodology. Four conceptions of research were identified: (A) research as a process of discovery; (B) research as a procedure to confirm preconceived ideas or theories; (C) research related to publishing; and (D) research related to people. By demonstrating variation in how research is conceived, the data obtained provide a basis for understanding participants' different orientation to research output and achievements. The findings reported in this paper reveal aspects of research that, although not evident, influence research practice.
PROFILE Issues in Teachers' Professional Development, 2014
This article analyzes the professional development of two English language teachers in a Mexican ... more This article analyzes the professional development of two English language teachers in a Mexican language center. In particular, it explores the interplay between professional development, identity and agency, and the part played by English language teaching certificates in all of these. Drawing on a case study methodology, which included the use of a series of three interviews and other qualitative data collection methods, the article demonstrates the intimate and intricate connection between teachers' identities and their professional development. Education implications for policy makers and practitioners are discussed.
This comparative study examines the learning trajectories of two
groups of Mexican novice languag... more This comparative study examines the learning trajectories of two groups of Mexican novice language teachers, three locally raised and educated ones and three repatriates from the USA. The study makes use of a combination of retrospective life-history research and the analysis of academic documents to look at the interrelationship between teachers’ identities and their degree of investment in academic and professional activities. The analysis revealed marked differences in the ways in which these two groups of teachers’ identities have been developed. While the locally educated teachers have constructed strong and articulated identities as a result of a stable family context and smooth transitions in their lives, the development of their returnee counterparts’ identities has been characterized by fragmentation due to the little, or lack of, stability in their home contexts as well as the complex and painful transitions in their lives. The paper discusses the impact that these differences have on participants’ degrees of investment in educational and work-related opportunities available to them in their contexts. Implications for researchers, language teacher trainers and applied linguistics academic program administrators are provided.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in... more The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in Mexican cotnexts. In particualr, it expores the ways in which diverse social and political factors hamper the successful implementation of national and institutional ELT policies. Drawing on a case study carried put throughout a period of five years, the paper uses three situations to illustrate the ways in which institutional efforts to promote English language teaching are deviated at some point in their developmental stages. The paper concludes by emphasizing the value of research to raise ELT practitioners' awareness of the challenges that the profession faces and proposing ways of overcoming them.
Este estudio presenta la trayectoria profesional de dos profesoras de lengua inglesa, adscritas a... more Este estudio presenta la trayectoria profesional de dos profesoras de lengua inglesa, adscritas a la Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, mediante el uso de narrativas autobiográfi cas. En particular, el artículo examina el impacto que el contexto social y educativo tiene en la formación de la agencia e identidad profesional de las participantes. El trabajo concluye resaltando la importancia de entender la naturaleza de la agencia que cada profesor posee para el ejercicio de la práctica pedagógica y un desarrollo docente congruente. También destaca las bondades de la autobiografía como estrategia metodológica ya que permite desarrollar una mejor comprensión de la forma en que se construyen y reconstruyen las identidades profesionales de las profesoras; en tanto a las participantes les posibilita establecer una relación más activa y refl exiva con sus experiencias pasadas y presentes.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in... more The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in Mexican contexts. In particular, it explores the ways in which diverse social and political factors hamper the successful implementation of national and institutional ELT policies. Drawing on a case study carried out throughout a period of five years, the paper uses three situations to illustrate the ways in which institutional efforts to promote English language teaching are deviated at some point in their developmental stages. The paper concludes by emphasizing the value of research to raise ELT practitioners' awareness of the challenges that the profession faces and proposing ways of overcoming them.
L'objectif de cette étude fut celui d'explorer l'identité des étudiants universitaires Mexicains ... more L'objectif de cette étude fut celui d'explorer l'identité des étudiants universitaires Mexicains de Linguistique Appliquée, en tant qu'auteurs de textes en anglais. Nous avons analysé l'utilisation de pronoms en première personne et la forme dont les participants ont conceptualisé leur identité en tant qu'auteurs de ces essais. L'emploi d'une combinaison d'analyse textuelle et d'entretiens basée sur le discours. Les résultats montrent que les participants ayant utilisé amplement les pronoms en première personne ont fait cet exercice plus pour présenter des expériences personnelles, que pour projeter une forte identité d'auteur. En revanche, ceux qui les ont utilisés moins, ont projeté une identité d'auteur forte à travers l'utilisation d'une variété de ressources linguistiques. L'utilisation de pronoms en première personne n'est pas essentielle pour le développement d'une identité d'auteur forte. Il faudrait que l'éducation supérieure offre plus d'opportunités et de ressources afin que les apprenants projettent une plus forte présence d'auteur dans les textes qu'ils écrivent en anglais.
La revista está indexada en los directorios: LATINDEX, REDALYC, IRESIE, CLASE, DIALNET, DOAJ, E-R... more La revista está indexada en los directorios: LATINDEX, REDALYC, IRESIE, CLASE, DIALNET, DOAJ, E-REVIST@S, La revista está incluida en los sitios: REDIE, RINACE, OEI, MAESTROTECA, PREAL, HUASCARAN, CLASCO Los contenidos de este artículo están bajo una licencia Creative Commons Revista Electrónica "Actualidades Investigativas en Educación" _____________________________________________________________Volumen 10, Número 1, Año 2010,
The professional development (PD) of language teachers plays a pivotal role in the improvement of... more The professional development (PD) of language teachers plays a pivotal role in the improvement of teaching-learning processes and educational institutions. Mexico's National Programme for the Improvement of Higher Education Teaching Staff (PROMEP), the National Education Programme, and State Education Development Plans hold similar ideas. Language centres that are part of state universities have therefore encouraged the professional development of their teaching faculties. This presentation reports the results of a study on professional development carried out at the North-East Language Centre in Mexico 1 . The researcher will outline the impact that the Centre's particular approach to professional development has on the faculty's preferences, beliefs and professional identities.
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Papers by Paulina Trejo
groups of Mexican novice language teachers, three locally raised
and educated ones and three repatriates from the USA. The study
makes use of a combination of retrospective life-history research
and the analysis of academic documents to look at the
interrelationship between teachers’ identities and their degree of
investment in academic and professional activities. The analysis
revealed marked differences in the ways in which these two
groups of teachers’ identities have been developed. While the
locally educated teachers have constructed strong and articulated
identities as a result of a stable family context and smooth
transitions in their lives, the development of their returnee
counterparts’ identities has been characterized by fragmentation
due to the little, or lack of, stability in their home contexts as well
as the complex and painful transitions in their lives. The paper
discusses the impact that these differences have on participants’
degrees of investment in educational and work-related
opportunities available to them in their contexts. Implications for
researchers, language teacher trainers and applied linguistics
academic program administrators are provided.
groups of Mexican novice language teachers, three locally raised
and educated ones and three repatriates from the USA. The study
makes use of a combination of retrospective life-history research
and the analysis of academic documents to look at the
interrelationship between teachers’ identities and their degree of
investment in academic and professional activities. The analysis
revealed marked differences in the ways in which these two
groups of teachers’ identities have been developed. While the
locally educated teachers have constructed strong and articulated
identities as a result of a stable family context and smooth
transitions in their lives, the development of their returnee
counterparts’ identities has been characterized by fragmentation
due to the little, or lack of, stability in their home contexts as well
as the complex and painful transitions in their lives. The paper
discusses the impact that these differences have on participants’
degrees of investment in educational and work-related
opportunities available to them in their contexts. Implications for
researchers, language teacher trainers and applied linguistics
academic program administrators are provided.