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Teaching English in Rural Vietnam: How EFL Teachers Define Themselves?

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Title: Teaching English in Rural Vietnam: How EFL Teachers Define Themselves?
Language: English
Authors: Ngo Huy Tú (ORCID 0009-0006-0718-5775), Do Thi Dung, Nguyen Luu Lan Anh
Source: Hungarian Educational Research Journal. 2026 16(1):39-58.
Availability: AK Journals. 1117 Budapest, Budafoki str. 187-189, A Building, 3rd floor, Budapest, Hungary. Tel: +36-1-464-8282; Fax: +36-1-464-8251; e-mail: info@akjournals.com; Web site: https://akjournals.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2026
Intended Audience: Teachers; Policymakers
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Rural Areas, English (Second Language), Second Language Instruction, Language Teachers, Barriers, Professional Identity, Teacher Attitudes, Figurative Language, Teacher Role, Cultural Influences, Elementary Secondary Education
Geographic Terms: Vietnam
ISSN: 2064-2199
Abstract: Rural areas in Vietnam often face challenges such as limited resources, lower levels of English proficiency among students, and fewer professional development opportunities for teachers, making the role of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators in these regions both vital and demanding. This study explores the professional identities of K-12 EFL teachers in rural areas of Vietnam. Using a qualitative approach and drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data were collected through metaphor elicitation from 24 EFL teachers currently working in rural Vietnam. Metaphor analysis was employed to analyse the collected metaphors. The study highlights how participants perceive and construct their professional identities within the unique socio-cultural and educational challenges of rural contexts. Six umbrella metaphors emerged as central to their experiences: teacher as a motivator, a ferry, a cultural ambassador, a seed sower, a juggler in a circus, and a home. This research adds to a deeper understanding of rural EFL teachers' identities, providing insights for educators and policymakers to improve teacher retention and support systems in underserved regions.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505549
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Teaching English in Rural Vietnam: How EFL Teachers Define Themselves?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ngo+Huy+Tú%22">Ngo Huy Tú</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0718-5775">0009-0006-0718-5775</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Do+Thi+Dung%22">Do Thi Dung</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nguyen+Luu+Lan+Anh%22">Nguyen Luu Lan Anh</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Hungarian+Educational+Research+Journal%22"><i>Hungarian Educational Research Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(1):39-58.
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  Data: AK Journals. 1117 Budapest, Budafoki str. 187-189, A Building, 3rd floor, Budapest, Hungary. Tel: +36-1-464-8282; Fax: +36-1-464-8251; e-mail: info@akjournals.com; Web site: https://akjournals.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 20
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Teachers; Policymakers
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Instruction%22">Second Language Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Teachers%22">Language Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Identity%22">Professional Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Figurative+Language%22">Figurative Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Role%22">Teacher Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Influences%22">Cultural Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vietnam%22">Vietnam</searchLink>
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  Data: 2064-2199
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Rural areas in Vietnam often face challenges such as limited resources, lower levels of English proficiency among students, and fewer professional development opportunities for teachers, making the role of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators in these regions both vital and demanding. This study explores the professional identities of K-12 EFL teachers in rural areas of Vietnam. Using a qualitative approach and drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data were collected through metaphor elicitation from 24 EFL teachers currently working in rural Vietnam. Metaphor analysis was employed to analyse the collected metaphors. The study highlights how participants perceive and construct their professional identities within the unique socio-cultural and educational challenges of rural contexts. Six umbrella metaphors emerged as central to their experiences: teacher as a motivator, a ferry, a cultural ambassador, a seed sower, a juggler in a circus, and a home. This research adds to a deeper understanding of rural EFL teachers' identities, providing insights for educators and policymakers to improve teacher retention and support systems in underserved regions.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 39
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional Identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Figurative Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vietnam
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Teaching English in Rural Vietnam: How EFL Teachers Define Themselves?
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            NameFull: Ngo Huy Tú
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            NameFull: Do Thi Dung
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            NameFull: Nguyen Luu Lan Anh
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              Y: 2026
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