Gender Ideologies in TESOL Teacher Education

Gender ideologies can profoundly influence how pre-service teachers see themselves—and are seen by others—in TESOL teacher education. These beliefs shape not only who feels legitimate as an English teacher, but also how future educators navigate their professional identities and opportunities. In this talk, Dr. Yue Zhang will unpack how patriarchal norms and expectations operate in pre-service teachers’ lived experience and teacher preparation programs, often in ways that go unnoticed but have lasting effects on their self-positioning, career paths, and classroom practices. She will also discuss why creating gender-responsive, inclusive spaces is essential for preparing the next generation of English language teachers and explore practical steps for making this a reality.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Yue Zhang
Department of English Language Education, The Education University of Hong Kong

Dr. Yue Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English Language Education at The Education University of Hong Kong. She holds an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Applied English Linguistics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. With over a decade of experience in TESOL and English teacher education in Mainland China and Hong Kong, she joined EdUHK in 2023. Her research interests encompass identity, investment in language learning/teaching, critical inquiries and pedagogy, and CALL. A bulk of her publications concern the impact and imprint of ideologies on language learning/teaching. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4109-2506
Email: [email protected]


Suggested Reading:

Zhang, Y., & Darvin, R. (2025). Negotiating gender ideologies and investing in teacher identities: The motivation and investment of EFL pre-service teachers. System, 133, 103669.

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