‘Because you’re all covered up’: Islamophobia in the ELT Classroom

Applied linguists have increasingly focused on how the lives of English language teachers and learners are shaped by race its intersections with other marginalized identities (e.g. Von Esch et al, 2020). Curiously overlooked, however, experiences one particularly stigmatized group in English-majority countries: Muslim women veiled niqab or hijab. In a global climate wary displays identity, such visible, misunderstood disproportionately targeted. The present study explored ESL classroom-based Islamophobia stories twelve Saudi sojourning New Zealand. Presented here related to encounters classmates that were perceived be hostile discriminatory. Analysis included focus recurring features interactional conduct, which interpreted as expressions underlying discourses ideologies. Among findings, reported condescending interrogations their identities, appeals ‘imperiled women’. Also incidents verbal aggression, whether bald masked ‘joking’. While arguing for tolerance, authors urge importance recognizing, monitoring addressing Islamophobia.