Migration, language learning and identity formation: personal growth in the part-time PhD journey

The personal motivation behind my PhD journey is deeply connected with my own experiences as a migrant and language learner. Having relocated to England with the aspiration of teaching English as an additional language, I faced significant challenges, not least of which was mastering English and building the confidence to teach it as a non-native speaker. These challenges mirrored some of those of my research participants, allowing me to approach my study with empathy and insight. The PhD process has been instrumental in encouraging my self-assurance and legitimizing my role in the academic and teaching communities. It has not only advanced my professional development but also enriched my personal growth, enabling me to realise my lifelong dream with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. My PhD journey has helped me grow both personally and professionally by overcoming some of my long-lasting as well as some newly developed insecurities. This article will elaborate on the three key areas. First, how my studies helped me find my own sense of belonging. Second, the connection between learning about my research participants and learning about myself. And third, how this journey has helped me reflect on, understand, and appreciate my cultural heritage and subsequently made me a more confident teacher of English as an additional language. The purpose of this paper is to critically reflect on how my PhD journey has facilitated personal growth, deepened my understanding of the connections between my research and lived experiences, and enhanced my confidence as a non-native language teacher, while contributing to the broader academic discourse on reflexivity, identity, and pedagogy.