Lita Liviani Taopan, Zulfa Sakhiyya, Sri Wuli Fitriati, Januarius Mujiyanto
This study explores how novice English teachers in a remote island region of Indonesia navigate the challenges of geographical and professional isolation. Building upon previous investigation into teacher identity growth and professional formation (Taopan et al., 2024, 2025), we focus on the lived experiences of six novice English teachers in the Alor District to understand how they survive and thrive in underserved communities. Using a narrative inquiry, we analyse life stories collected since 2020 through personal journals, in-depth interviews, observations and direct field visits to participants in their respective villages. Findings reveal that despite severe limitations in technological and pedagogical resources, participants leverage the TPACK framework as a vital lifeline to overcome the barriers of remoteness. This process is central to the construction of resilient professional, personal and institutional identities. We propose the TPACK and Teacher Identity integration framework to illustrate the dynamic, ongoing process of becoming an empowered educator in a nation’s most challenging environments. © 2026, Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc.. All rights reserved.
Universitas Tribuana Kalabahi, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
