JALT2025 - Tokyo

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Language Teachers in Japan

Oct 31, 2025, 2:50 PM

1h

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Research-Oriented Presentation (60-minutes) Teacher and Professional Development Room 306

Speakers

Adrianne Verla Uchida (Tokyo City University) JENNIE ROLOFF ROTHMAN (Kanda University of International Studies)

Description

This presentation shares specific stories of language educators in Japan that explored how the pandemic influenced teacher identity, beliefs, practices, emotions, well-being, and professional development. Narrative inquiry, a methodology which reveals lived experiences within rich, story-filled data, was used to analyze responses from survey and interview participants nationwide. Whether teachers moved online or not, they were challenged to adapt their teaching practices and provide adequate, if not quality, learning experiences for their students.

Summary

This presentation shares specific stories of language educators in Japan that explored how the pandemic influenced teacher identity, beliefs, practices, emotions, well-being, and professional development. Narrative inquiry, a methodology which reveals lived experiences within rich, story-filled data, was used to analyze responses from survey and interview participants nationwide. Whether teachers moved online or not, they were challenged to adapt their teaching practices and provide adequate, if not quality, learning experiences for their students.