Vulnerability and Resilience During Emergency Remote Teaching: Voices of Part-Time University English Language Teachers in Japan

Wendy M. Gough · Bill Snyder · Chiyuki Yanase · Colin Skeates

Jul 2024 · Life and Education in Japan Book 8 · Candlin & Mynard

About this ebook

This book explores the profound impact of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) on part-time university English language teachers in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a blend of quantitative data and heartfelt personal narratives, the authors reveal the complex challenges faced by these educators—ranging from job insecurity to the rapid adoption of new teaching technologies. The initial chapters delve into the setup of the study, followed by detailed analyses of survey and interview data that underscore the vulnerability and resilience these teachers exhibited. As the pandemic forced a sudden shift to online education, the book examines how these teachers navigated their altered professional landscapes, balancing teaching responsibilities with personal and professional uncertainties.

Part three of the book focuses on the voices of the participants, offering rich, first-person insights into their experiences during the first semester of ERT. The narrative deepens with participant interviews and personal reflections that illustrate the profound psychological impacts and the innovative coping strategies developed in response to the crisis. In concluding, the book addresses the future of educational practices, emphasizing the importance of institutional support and professional development in enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of part-time faculty. This comprehensive study not only highlights the immediate effects of the pandemic on educational practices but also serves as a crucial resource for understanding the ongoing needs and contributions of part-time teachers in higher education.

About the author

Wendy M. Gough is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Foreign Studies at Bunkyo Gakuin University in Tokyo. She has worked as a language teacher in the United States and Japan for over 25 years. Her current interests are in supporting part-time university teachers, curriculum development, motivating student writers.

Bill Snyder is Professor in the International Language Education: TESOL Program at Soka University in Hachioji, Japan. He has worked in language teacher education for over 30 years in the United States, Turkey, Armenia, South Korea, and Japan. His current research interests focus on trust in language teaching and the lives of part-time teachers in Japan and elsewhere. 

Chiyuki Yanase is a part-time lecturer at several universities in Tokyo. She holds an MSc in TESOL from Aston University and has over 30 years of experience teaching English at various institutions. Her current research interests focus on teacher and learner wellbeing, and she continues to explore the science of happiness.

Colin Skeates is currently a part-time lecturer at several universities in Nagoya. At the start of the pandemic, he was a full-time (contract) teacher working for Keio University. He has worked as an English instructor in Thailand and Canada, but has spent the majority of his career in Yokohama, Japan. A bit of a Jack of all trades, he is interested in several areas of language teaching and learning research such as the role of AI in language education and professional and faculty development. It is, however, the role of research in university decision making that leaves him most confused.