The Role of Shame and Guilt Experienced by ESL Teachers: A Mixed-Method Study Across the Maldives, Palestine, and Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Shame and guilt, despite being two commonly experienced emotions by teachers, are often neglected in discussions on individual differences and applied linguistics. However, the existence of these two emotions cannot be denied as they can affect the teaching process and ultimately, the student learning outcomes. This study aims to investigate shame and guilt, in three different contexts namely, the Maldives, Palestine, and Kyrgyzstan, using a mixed-method approach. A scenario-based, Teaching English as a Second Language Test of Shame and Guilt Affect (TESL-TOSGA) was developed to measure ESL teachers' susceptibility to shame and guilt within the school context, as well as to assess their detachment in teaching. The findings revealed guilt as the predominant emotion experienced by ESL teachers, followed by detachment and shame. However, the extent of these emotions varied across the countries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate how these emotions influenced teachers' efforts in teaching. It was discovered that teachers' experiences of perceived shame and guilt both positively and negatively impacted their professional identities in terms of self-perception and self-oriented perfectionism. Additionally, it was found that these emotions prompt teachers to incorporate various strategies to enable shame-and-guilt-free environments for not only the students but themselves as well. Moreover, our data shed light on the diverse forms of socially prescribed perfectionism towards ESL teachers across the three countries, emphasizing the influence of culture on ESL teachers' emotional experiences and transformations. The implications of the findings could significantly contribute to discussions surrounding ESL teaching.



Author Information
Aminath Wafa Waheed, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
Maree Ziad Tima, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
Kasiet Kapalova, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary

Paper Information
Conference: ECLL2024
Stream: Applied linguistics research

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon