Professionalizing the teachers of today and tomorrow: Language Teacher Identity and beyond
Short Title: 2025LTI

Date: 21-Nov-2025 - 21-Nov-2025
Location: Paderborn, Germany
Contact: Katharina v. Elbwart
Contact Email: [email protected]
Meeting URL: https://indico.uni-paderborn.de/event/114/

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics; General Linguistics; Language Acquisition; Sociolinguistics; Text/Corpus Linguistics
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
German (deu)
Language Family(ies): Indo-European

Submission Deadline: 30-Jun-2025

We are seeking proposals for a one-day symposium in November 2025 on (foreign) language teacher identity within various sociocultural, institutional, and policy-driven contexts. Language teacher identity (LTI) is a crucial aspect of teacher development and professionalization, which is dynamic and multifaceted in nature. This conference, which is held in-person and at Paderborn University, aims to explore the evolving nature of LTI, examining how educators construct, negotiate, and perform their professional identities in diverse linguistic and educational settings at any stage of their career. Details can be found in the attached CfP, abstract submission is open and possible via Indico.
Through empirical research, theoretical perspectives, case studies and reflective narratives, we aim to highlight the interplay between identity, pedagogy, professionalization, and teacher development.

Key themes:
• Identity formation in multilingual and multicultural classrooms,
• The influence of teacher education programs on LTI,
• (Foreign) Language use in classrooms and its influence on LTI,
• Language policies, professional development, and their impact on LTI,
• The intersection of teacher agency and professionalization,
• Digital technologies and their role in shaping teacher identity,
• Migration, integration, and the evolving role of language educators.

Confirmed keynote speakers:

Gary Barkhuizen (University of Auckland)
David Gerlach (University of Wuppertal)
Sílvia Melo-Pfeifer (University of Hamburg)