EXPLORING 'TEACHER STRESS' IN NON-NATIVE AND NATIVE TEACHERS OF EFL

Background Teachers have always been the centre of attention in the classroom, yet ironically their concerns and needs have not always been addressed in the same way. Nowadays EFL/ESL teachers, along with teachers in other fields, have heavier responsibilities than before, and studies show that teaching is one of the most stressful jobs in comparison to other occupations (Adams 2001). Innovations in the field of education and language teaching have created a rather novel role for teachers. Teachers are no longer looked at as the mere transferors of knowledge, but as individuals who need to communicate and engage with students more than before and to care for their inner worlds (Arnold 1999).