Exploring the ambiguities and tensions EFL teachers face as they attempt to position themselves in ways that legitimize them as language teachers and as English speakers, this book balances descriptive reporting with a theoretical discussion connecting teachers' local concerns and practices to broader issues in TESOL in international contexts.

Peter Sayer is Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Chapter 1: Exploring the contradictions of language teaching Setting the scene

Chapter 2: Three English teachers

Chapter 3: Squeezing more juice: Portraits of local English teaching in Oaxacan communities

Chapter 4: Legitimacy, symbolic competence, and teaching English

Chapter 5: So they can defend themselves a little: The meanings and contradictions of

teaching English

Chapter 6: Hey, take it easy!: Ambivalence and language ideologies

Chapter 7: I lasted one day and then I was gone: Performing legitimacy

Chapter 8: Conclusions: (Re)legitimizing through tensions and ambiguities