Sustainable careers of teachers of languages other than English (LOTEs) for sustainable multilingualism in Chinese universities

This paper explores Chinese universities’ policies related to the research performance review of language other than English (LOTE) teachers with respect to promotion. Drawing on a variety of data including policy documents and interviews with 32 individual LOTE teachers from 16 universities, we identified that Chinese universities have unreasonable expectations in terms of research publications and research funding for language teachers, including LOTE teachers, which make their career prospects unsustainable. We also evaluated the contextual realities for LOTE teachers regarding academic publication and research funding, and identified a widespread feeling of anxiety and stress among LOTE teachers. Though LOTE teachers are committed to undertaking various efforts to overcome challenges in their research performance review for promotion, we call on university management and policy makers to provide additional support to LOTE teachers, so that they can develop sustainable careers and universities, including Chinese universities, will be able to rely on sustainable multilingualism.