Being a Slovak Teacher of English in Britain: On Language, Labelling and Politeness

This personal account narrates my experiences as a non-British academic within the field of teaching English for Academic Purposes. I analyse these experiences as critical incidents which reveal how I negotiate belonging in the British academia and society. The chapter recounts how I tend to be positioned based on my accent, labelled based on my origin, and perceived based on my communication style. These negative perceptions and stereotyped labels point out, on the one hand, the tendency in the UK to over-homogenise post-communist cultures, and, on the other hand, that politeness is not universal. I reflect on how these experiences have redefined and shaped my professional identity and values as a university teacher, thus positively contributing to my academic career.