Emotional labor in English teaching: Challenges, burnout, and the role of emotional intelligence
Managing emotions is also part of teaching English. What causes instructor burnout and how to prevent it.
Main topic: occupational health, emotional regulation, and climate in educational institutions.
Language teaching and instruction in private and public institutions involve a considerable amount of emotional labor: the need to regulate, suppress, or display certain emotions to meet the expectations of institutions, students, or parents.
This qualitative study of instructors in Mexico reveals that factors such as lack of participation in institutional decision-making, organizational pressures, technology gaps, and lack of professional recognition lead to emotional exhaustion (burnout) and isolation. It emphasizes that emotional intelligence (EI) and self-managed emotional regulation strategies are essential tools for preserving subjective well-being, preventing attrition, and maintaining an optimal learning environment.
Corporate application tip: teacher development and corporate language training programs should include formal spaces for recognition, two-way feedback, and workshops on emotional regulation and professional resilience for instructors.
Study reference
Ramírez Armenta. (2023). Emotional Labor Practices: A Case Study of EFL Teachers in Mexico. MEXTESOL Journal, 47(1). Universidad Veracruzana.