El trabajo de Diane Nagatomo profundiza en la intersección de la identidad, el género y la enseñanza del inglés dentro del contexto educativo japonés. Su investigación examina críticamente los enfoques pedagógicos y su impacto en los estudiantes, ofreciendo perspectivas perspicaces sobre los matices culturales de la adquisición del lenguaje. A través de su amplia experiencia como educadora en Japón, Nagatomo explora cómo los entornos académicos dan forma a las identidades personales y profesionales. Sus escritos contribuyen significativamente a la comprensión de las complejidades de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en un entorno intercultural.
Focusing on Japanese university English teachers, the book explores the development of professional identities among relatively new educators. It highlights the influence of gender on the professional identities of female professors and examines how their teaching practices and beliefs are intertwined with both personal and professional identity.
The narrative unfolds in modern-day Tokyo, centering on Jessie Yamada, an American grappling with guilt after her husband's sudden death, which follows her contemplation of leaving him. As she uncovers the secrets of their marriage, Jessie inherits a rundown café filled with cats, prompting her to rebuild her life with the support of friends and neighbors. Just as she begins to find stability, an unexpected twist challenges her to make a pivotal decision that could alter the lives of those she cares about.
How do teachers who have chosen to settle down in one country manage the difficulties of living and teaching English in that country? How do they develop and sustain their careers, and what factors shape their identity? This book answers these questions by investigating the personal and professional identity development of ten Western women who teach English in various educational contexts in Japan, all of whom have Japanese spouses. The book covers issues of interracial relationships, expatriation, equality and employment practices as well as the broader topics of gender and identity. The book also provides a useful overview of English language teaching and learning in Japan.