Fictional Teacher Archetypes in Language Teacher Education: Hogwarts as a Context for Reflection

This study explores the use of fictional teacher archetypes as a starting point for reflection on professional identity development during language teacher education. Drawing on the application of Jungian depth psychology in education, it suggests how archetypes, which are the universal but dynamic patterns embedded in the human psyche, can offer metaphorical lenses through which language teachers can examine their beliefs, values and classroom practices. The study uses the Harry Potter film series as a shared cultural text, focusing on five teachers – Snape, Trelawney, Lockhart, Lupin, and Umbridge, whose pedagogical styles exemplify diverse teacher archetypes. Through these archetypes, the study highlights tensions between authority and autonomy, instructional clarity, and the interaction of personal and professional identity. It argues that framing archetypal reflection on fictional teachers within established educational theories can foster an informed, innovative approach to reflection on developing teacher identity.