ABSTRACT
Teacher well-being has gained considerable attention in recent years. Although most research has focused on ameliorating negative states of teacher well-being, a modest, growing number of studies have examined teacher well-being from a positive perspective. This chapter provides a general overview of the available literature regarding teacher well-being and emphasizes the wide array of stressors that teachers face today. To do this, the chapter addresses current state-of-the-art literature in relation to teaching and well-being, and the numerous challenges posed in the field. Particular emphasis is placed on the current state of teachers’ mental health, taking into consideration the effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the field and on teachers’ well-being, specifically. Using the aforementioned general overview as a foundation, the chapter shifts readers’ attention to Mercer’s (2021) call for an ecological perspective of teacher well-being in English language teaching (ELT). Finally, the chapter concludes by proposing ideas of what can be done in order to support teachers’ personal growth and overall well-being in ELT and beyond.
