'What others are now, I could become': A poetic inquiry into Indonesian EFL beginning teachers' identity construction

Understanding teacher identity is important because it could become one of the factors why teachers stay or leave the profession. This study explored the construction of identities of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) beginning teachers who graduated from an Islamic teacher education program in Indonesia. The findings revealed that teachers' identities were dynamic and changing, affected by emotional experiences as pre-service teachers and as early career teachers. The participants' religious background and future hopes also influenced the way they viewed themselves and the teaching profession. This study findings provide some insights for teacher education programs in preparing future teachers.