"The Darker Your Skin Color is, the Harder it is in Korea": Discursive Construction of Racial Identity in Teaching Internationally

Growing interest in international teaching programs has produced a surge of research on international language teaching (Menard-Warwick, 2008). However, there are relatively few studies on the international teaching experiences of native English-speaking teachers of color regarding their racial identity. To fill this gap, this longitudinal multi-case study explores how three non-White novice native English-speaking teachers understood their racial and teacher identities during their international teaching in Korea. With a specific focus on their racial identity, how they make sense of their teaching and living experiences is examined in diverse contexts of their social interactions. The participants' reflective and evaluative narratives from interviews were analyzed. The findings show that although their racial identity has a negative impact on their linguistic and professional identity that is denied by Korean society, the teachers utilized their own strategies for constructing a sense of belonging to the local and professional community. This study calls for a holistic, situated understanding of racial identity construction of non-White native English teachers by urging further discussion of racism in the global ELT profession. This discussion encompasses the varying, pressing needs of expatriate English teachers from diverse backgrounds.