Narrative and the construction of Algerian University Teachers’ Professional Identities

Abstract

Forming a teaching identity is a long, complex, and multi-faceted process that starts a long time before getting a teaching job. In this regard, Alsup (2005) has proposed a framework for analyzing teachers’ construction of their professional identity ,which established a causal relationship between teachers ‘construction of professional identity especially in teachers preparation programs and teachers ‘effectiveness. The present study aimed at investigating the potential differences between the processes of professional identity development in teacher training school programs and general university courses in Algeria using Alsup’s framework .In order to achieve the aims of the present study, an interview was designed and implemented to a sample of five university teachers of English at the university of Mohammed sedik ben yahia in Jijel, two teachers were students at teacher training school whereas the other three graduated from a general university course. The analysis of the elicited narratives showed the existence of a number of essential differences in the process of professional identity construction between those who attended a teachers training course and those who attended a general university course