A1 Journal article (refereed)
‘I’m a foreign teacher’ : legitimate positionings in the stories of a migrant teacher (2022)


Ennser-Kananen, J., & Ruohotie-Lyhty, M. (2022). ‘I’m a foreign teacher’ : legitimate positionings in the stories of a migrant teacher. Journal of Education for Teaching, . https://doi.org/10.1080/02607476.2022.2105138


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Ennser-Kananen, Johanna; Ruohotie-Lyhty, Maria

Journal or series: Journal of Education for Teaching

ISSN: 0260-7476

eISSN: 1360-0540

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 07/08/2022

Pages range: Early online

Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02607476.2022.2105138

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82543


Abstract

This qualitative study examines one migrant teacher’s identity positions in the context of a peer mentoring group setting in Finland. Combining theories of legitimacy and teacher narratives, this study asked which positions were available and legitimate for a migrant teacher. The analysis of three of the stories the teacher (‘Ji Yoo’) shared was inspired by Barkhuizen’s three-step framework for examining positioning in teacher narratives. Findings showed that Ji Yoo’s most legitimate positions were being ‘foreign’, novice teacher, cultural broker, and expert teacher, the latter two being the least frequent and least explicit ones. The authors suggest that migrant teachers’ struggles of having their expertise and experience recognised and shed their ‘foreign’ label persist even in contexts that are intended to support and empower practitioners.


Keywords: immigrants; immigrant background; migrants; foreigners; teachers; language teachers; teacherhood; identity (mental objects); professional identity; peer support; mentoring; legitimacy; narrative analysis

Free keywords: migrant teacher; language teacher; legitimacy; positioning; peer mentoring


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2023-03-04 at 08:48