CONSTRUCTING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF PRIVATE TEACHERS: A CASE STUDY OF SHADOW EDUCATION

Indonesia has received scant attention from researchers for its reputation in cradle
of shadow education. This research looked into shadow education in Indonesia,
where centred on the professional identities of private English teachers in
Semarang, Central Java. The study included three private teachers who shared
their professional trajectory in shaping their identity as private teachers. Semi-
structured interviews were used to elicit detailed descriptions of the factors
influencing professional identity. The interviews were conducted in three stages
over the course of five months, from April to August 2021. This study employs
qualitative methodology where case study is the method to approach the research
contexts. The findings revealed the trajectory of private teachers as well as the
internal and external factors influencing their preference to participate in shadow
education. Diverse factors, including religion, learning experiences, family
members, regulations, and social contexts, contribute to the formation of identity
trajectories, according to the findings. The initial exposure to English came from
family members via films, tunes, radio broadcasts, newspapers, and magazines.
The discussion of the data analysis results was framed by a thematic approach to
study how private teachers construct their professional identities. According to the
teachers' narratives, they did not intend to become English teachers, but their
journeys and complex trajectories lead them to the profession. In contrast, the
private teachers' narratives revealed that they majored in science, but ended up
becoming English instructors and forming their identities differently through
English. The study concludes with implications for theory and practice, arguing
that frameworks of identity can be valuable development tools for understanding
the professional lives and trajectories of Indonesian teachers. The research
contributes significantly to our understanding of private teachers’ professional
identities in shadow education.
Keywords: private teacher, shadow education, teacher professional identity