Introducing a Culture of Research in TESOL: Global Perspectives, Local Practices

The growing momentum for building teacher-researcher partnerships in TESOL emphasizes holistic professionalism rather than bifurcation of teaching from research; and reflexive learning rather than privileging academic knowledge. This momentum in the English language education community has involved dialogues centered on a participatory culture of inquiry in which identities as “teachers” and “researchers” have become flexible and permeable. The contributors to this volume illustrate this shift toward a culture of research, which aims to forge a reflexive relationship between educational research and teaching practice by bridging the gap between them. In this introductory chapter, the authors, who are the co-editors of the volume, share their understandings of a culture of research in TESOL. Then, they introduce the chapters brought together in this volume to exemplify a range of perspectives and local practices within such a culture. The chapter concludes with a call for educational institutions and professional organizations to promote the collaborative turn in TESOL research.