Unlearning and Transfer A Collaborative Autoethnographic Reflection on the Education Journey from Nepal to the United States

Authors

  • Ananta Khanal
  • Purna Chandra Bhusal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v30i1.87823

Keywords:

Autoethnography, critical reflection, critical self-inquiry, collaborative reflection, unlearning, and transfer

Abstract

This article critically reflects on the educational journeys of two students and educators, from their experiences with school-level English education in Nepal to their first year of PhD studies in the United States. This reflection is informed by the methodological insights of collaborative autoethnography (CAE), as both authors share similar educational experiences. The theoretical concepts used in the reflection are unlearning and transfer. The authors‘ joint reflection identify es seven transitions involving unlearning and transferring. Based on these seven transitions, they derive seven key teaching-learning insights and propose a pedagogy grounded in a critical self-inquiry model. Therefore, the article explores innovative educational theories of unlearning and transfer in teaching and learning, while also opening avenues for further research.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
2
PDF
1

Author Biographies

Ananta Khanal

Ananta Khanal is a PhD student in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. His research interests are language and power, composition pedagogy, and justice rhetoric. He is particularly focused on integrating epistemologies from Western and non Western traditions to improve teaching methods.

Purna Chandra Bhusal

Purna Chandra Bhusal is pursuing his PhD in Rhetoric and Composition and working as an Assistant Instructor for First-Year Composition at the University of Texas at El Paso, USA. He has earned his M.A. and M.Phil. in English from Nepal, as well as a Master of Social Science from Norway. His research interests include counter storying pedagogy, decolonial education, and justice rhetoric. He is one of the recipients of two CCCC (Conference on College Composition and Communication) awards: Scholars for the Dream Travel Award 2024 and Chairs‘ Memorial Scholarship Award 2025.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Khanal , A., & Bhusal, P. C. (2025). Unlearning and Transfer A Collaborative Autoethnographic Reflection on the Education Journey from Nepal to the United States . Journal of NELTA, 30(1), 80–92. https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v30i1.87823

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

© Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA)

Authors are required to transfer their copyright to the Nepal English Language Teachers' Association (NELTA)

The Journal of NELTA is copyright by Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA). Apart from citing/referencing in academic works, no part of any materials may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from its copyright owner – NELTA. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights may be addressed to NELTA or the editorial board at neltaeditorialboard@gmail.com.