Chapter 3: From Chai Dates to Critical Friends: Reflective Practice as Professional Development
Adrianne Verla Uchida and Jennie Roloff Rothman
Abstract
This chapter outlines a critical friendship in which two EFL educators reflect on adjustments to new teaching contexts, growth in their professional roles, and changes in their teacher identities. Over the course of an academic year, the two fostered a critical friendship that facilitated their professional development. Inspired by Bristow and Wagner’s (2017) use of journaling and interviews, this project allowed each researcher to facilitate the other’s reflection on their teaching and academic work. One teacher reflected on their adjustment to a new university and greater professional responsibilities. The other teacher reflected on how they settled into an administrative role supporting the development of other teachers that frequently took precedence over their own classroom. Following these reflective sessions, the researchers sought out texts for each other that encouraged deeper examination or exploration of themes that emerged during discussions.
Keywords: new contexts, professional development, dialogue, critical incidents
About the Contributors
Adrianne Verla Uchida has taught English in Japan since 2004. She is an Assistant Professor at Nihon University College of International Relations. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College Columbia University. Her research interests include critical friendships, reflective practice and teacher identity.
Jennie Roloff Rothman is Senior Coordinator of Teacher Professional Development in the English Language Institute at Kanda University of International Studies. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College Columbia University. She has been teaching in Japan since 2004.
Citation
Verla Uchida, A., & Roloff Rothman, J. (2023). From chai dates to critical friends: Reflective practice as professional development. In A. Verla Uchida & J. Roloff Rothman (Eds.), Cultivating professional development through critical friendship and reflective practice: Cases from Japan (pp. 79-108). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/27/3
This chapter outlines a critical friendship in which two EFL educators reflect on adjustments to new teaching contexts, growth in their professional roles, and changes in their teacher identities. Over the course of an academic year, the two fostered a critical friendship that facilitated their professional development. Inspired by Bristow and Wagner’s (2017) use of journaling and interviews, this project allowed each researcher to facilitate the other’s reflection on their teaching and academic work. One teacher reflected on their adjustment to a new university and greater professional responsibilities. The other teacher reflected on how they settled into an administrative role supporting the development of other teachers that frequently took precedence over their own classroom. Following these reflective sessions, the researchers sought out texts for each other that encouraged deeper examination or exploration of themes that emerged during discussions.
Keywords: new contexts, professional development, dialogue, critical incidents
About the Contributors
Adrianne Verla Uchida has taught English in Japan since 2004. She is an Assistant Professor at Nihon University College of International Relations. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College Columbia University. Her research interests include critical friendships, reflective practice and teacher identity.
Jennie Roloff Rothman is Senior Coordinator of Teacher Professional Development in the English Language Institute at Kanda University of International Studies. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College Columbia University. She has been teaching in Japan since 2004.
Citation
Verla Uchida, A., & Roloff Rothman, J. (2023). From chai dates to critical friends: Reflective practice as professional development. In A. Verla Uchida & J. Roloff Rothman (Eds.), Cultivating professional development through critical friendship and reflective practice: Cases from Japan (pp. 79-108). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/27/3
Information About the Book
Title: Cultivating Professional Development Through Critical Friendship and Reflective Practice: Cases From Japan.
Editors: Adrianne Verla Uchida and Jennie Roloff Rothman
Publication date: 2023
Read more...
Title: Cultivating Professional Development Through Critical Friendship and Reflective Practice: Cases From Japan.
Editors: Adrianne Verla Uchida and Jennie Roloff Rothman
Publication date: 2023
Read more...