A duoethography of gamers as second language learners and teachers : translating, polylanguaging, and translanguaging

Abstract

There is an expanding body of literature regarding gaming and English language teaching, but there is an area that remains unexplored: The discussions of the life experiences of gamers who are teachers and how gaming has shaped their views on pedagogy and teaching. This monograph, the result of a duoethnographic experience between a professional (Julián) and a hardcore (Walter) gamer, illustrates how the authors’ life experiences as gamers are influencing their present and future teaching. The duoethnography featured here will narrate learning experiences, introducing three moments that all gamers who are second language users experience in translating, polylanguaging, and translanguaging. This monograph is also a call for teacher educators and researchers to pay more attention to the living experiences in video games as part of the teacher education process.