Globalization has made English a pivotal language for global communication. This has increasingly made a great number of native English speakers move to Korea and teach English at all levels of education from kindergarten to university year after year. Most of them have not only little or no training as language instructors, but also little or no teaching experience. Many may wonder how they teach students with little understanding about teaching in a foreign country. At the same time, they may also surmise that they would endure many difficulties in their profession. As a faculty member working with them for over fifteen years, I have also had such questions. Especially, I was curious what conflicts they bear in their minds and how they respond to differences between Canadian and Korean culture and pedagogy. This study is grounded on the hermeneutic tradition which ultimately pursues humane lives. This hermeneutic tradition leads me to the conflicts that native English speaking teachers have experienced, to the implications embedded in the Korean and English language, and to the differences between Canadian and Korean ways of thought. While following the hermeneutic tradition, I am aware that there was little or no communication between the Canadian and Korean teaching staff, which resulted in their alienated lives and in living in a world of exclusion from their schools, disregard about their profession, and indifference from their students. The hermeneutic tradition guides me in a path toward restoring the deteriorated humane aspects of their lives as teachers. As a ground for understanding them, I attempt to define the notion of the in-between on the basis of equality and respect which are rooted in the concept of the Korean language for the in-between. This conceptual elaboration enables me to conceive that differences are not objects to exclude, to disregard, or to be indifferent, but motives to perceive the necessity to reform and to change the inequality and injustices. In this light, I propose that educational institutions allow them to participate in decision making, open a special in-service teacher training program for them, and provide them with a support system.

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the perceptions of preservice teachers toward native and nonnative English speaking (NES and NNES) graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in English as a second language (ESL) methodology and/or ESL assessment courses at a Southwestern U.S. university. This study also investigated the perceptions of NES and NNES GTAs toward preservice teachers. This study explored the issue of whether preservice teachers are prepared to accept and validate diversity among their instructors which in turn should make them sensitive to diverse learners they will encounter in their future teaching. In the first part of the study, a total of 262 preservice teachers were surveyed. The survey data were collected in spring 2007 and fall 2008. Of the 262 preservice teachers, 20 participated in focus group discussions to provide further insight on their views of NES and NNES GTAs. In the second part of the study, four GTAs participated in a longitudinal study by writing online blog entries after any encounters (positive or negative) they had with their students inside and outside the classroom. The blogs reflected the GTAs? immediate reactions after their classes. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the GTAs. Findings of the first study revealed that preservice teacher perceived NES and NNES GTAs differently. Preservice teachers put a lot of emphasis on the intelligibility of the NNES GTAs. The preservice teachers were ?tolerant? if their NNES spoke English ?clearly?. However, there were some preservice teachers who were dissatisfied with their NNES GTAs due to their possessing a non-mainstream language. Findings of the second study revealed that NNES GTAs faced major challenges in their effort to be recognized as legitimate and competent instructors. Although the GTAs had vastly different personal backgrounds, perceptions, and identities as instructors, common themes or issues emerged from the data: (1) teaching is complex (linguistic, cultural, and racial issues are involved); (2) beliefs about teaching can change; (3) challenges are faced as an ?outsider? instructor; and (4) teaching provides experiences of joy. The study has implications for teacher education programs and training programs offered for international graduate students by universities.

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This study examined the perceptions of non-native English speaking immigrant students at a small Canadian university relating to their transition to university, their experiences within the social and academic contexts of the campus, and their sense of belonging on their campus. This study used a phenomenological approach, and was supported by a conceptual framework of minority student persistence and belonging within postsecondary education. The findings of this study suggest that these students’ positive social experiences and perception of the campus as being diverse and open to diversity were connected to students’ sense of belonging. The findings also suggest that increased availability of customized support is needed for non-native English speaking students on this Canadian campus, and that greater awareness among university faculty and administration needs to be paid to students’ integration in classroom and campus practices. This thesis concludes with recommendations for practice and future research.

This study examined the perceptions of non-native English speaking immigrant students at a small Canadian university relating to their transition to university, their experiences within the social and academic contexts of the campus, and their sense of belonging on their campus. This study used a phenomenological approach, and was supported by a conceptual framework of minority student persistence and belonging within postsecondary education. The findings of this study suggest that these students’ positive social experiences and perception of the campus as being diverse and open to diversity were connected to students’ sense of belonging. The findings also suggest that increased availability of customized support is needed for non-native English speaking students on this Canadian campus, and that greater awareness among university faculty and administration needs to be paid to students’ integration in classroom and campus practices. This thesis concludes with recommendations for practice and future research.

The purpose of this study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of overseas-qualified nurses from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) in relation to their educational and socialisation experience whilst enrolled in a Competency Based Assessment Program (CBAP). The study was conducted using a modified grounded theory approach. There were a total of seventeen participants; fourteen NESB nurses, and three teachers who were directly involved with their education in the CBAP. The NESB nurses who participated fell into three main groups in terms of their previous professional experience. These were: � Specialist � Experienced generalist � Inexperienced generalist However, the level of skill and experience that the nurses brought to the educational and practice encounter made no difference to their experience of prejudice and lack of support, particularly in the clinical environment. The education and clinical experience they received challenged feelings of competency as much as they expanded feelings of competency. The NESB nurses� experiences of diversity also challenged their feelings of competence. In addition, the level of previous experience did not reduce the concern expressed by NESB nurses regarding the possibility of finding appropriate employment following registration. The implications of this for the profession and the health care system are that even the most experienced specialist and generalist nurses are not having their level of skill appropriately recognised and utilised in a timely way despite the current shortage of generalist and specialist nurses in Victoria. The outcome of the study led to the development of a model that has the potential to lead to a culture change in the clinical environment with a view to improving educational opportunities and experiences for NESB nurses who are enrolled in CBAP. In addition, the model has the potential to be useful in terms of providing local nurses with an opportunity to express their own thoughts and ideas in relation to the education of NESB nurses in the clinical environment. The model is based upon the theoretical perspectives of �productive diversity� and �clinical governance and organisational learning�.

The purpose of this study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of overseas-qualified nurses from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) in relation to their educational and socialisation experience whilst enrolled in a Competency Based Assessment Program (CBAP). The study was conducted using a modified grounded theory approach. There were a total of seventeen participants; fourteen NESB nurses, and three teachers who were directly involved with their education in the CBAP. The NESB nurses who participated fell into three main groups in terms of their previous professional experience. These were: � Specialist � Experienced generalist � Inexperienced generalist However, the level of skill and experience that the nurses brought to the educational and practice encounter made no difference to their experience of prejudice and lack of support, particularly in the clinical environment. The education and clinical experience they received challenged feelings of competency as much as they expanded feelings of competency. The NESB nurses� experiences of diversity also challenged their feelings of competence. In addition, the level of previous experience did not reduce the concern expressed by NESB nurses regarding the possibility of finding appropriate employment following registration. The implications of this for the profession and the health care system are that even the most experienced specialist and generalist nurses are not having their level of skill appropriately recognised and utilised in a timely way despite the current shortage of generalist and specialist nurses in Victoria. The outcome of the study led to the development of a model that has the potential to lead to a culture change in the clinical environment with a view to improving educational opportunities and experiences for NESB nurses who are enrolled in CBAP. In addition, the model has the potential to be useful in terms of providing local nurses with an opportunity to express their own thoughts and ideas in relation to the education of NESB nurses in the clinical environment. The model is based upon the theoretical perspectives of �productive diversity� and �clinical governance and organisational learning�.

Sachs (2005) argues that a conceptual framework of identity can guide teachers on how to construct their own ideas regarding “how to be”, “how to act”, and “how to understand” their work (p. 15). However, teachers who work in a foreign context may need to adapt their conceptual framework of identity in order to improve the fit between themselves and their workplace. With this thought in mind, the current qualitative, exploratory study is concerned with the professional identity adaptation of a group of ten native English speaking teachers working at two governmental institutes in the state of Qatar. The aim of this study was two-fold: first, to discover what factors affect teachers’ self-perception and professional identity; second, to explore implications for the practice of these native English speaking teachers (NESTs). Research data collected through in-depth semi-structured interviewing and classroom observations revealed that both institutional and intrapersonal factors were involved in the adaptation of the teachers’ professional identity and the teachers’ approaches to adapt their pedagogy. In other words, one of the noticeable features of the teachers’ professional identity adaptation was the conflict between the teachers’ expectations and the realities of the local context (interpersonal conflicts). There was evidence that teachers’ intrapersonal negotiation lead them to develop multiple identities in order to avoid any troubles at the workplace. Consequently, the mismatch between the teachers’ expectations of their professional life and the realities of the local context caused an apparent inconsistency between the teachers’ beliefs and behavior, which was considered to be a form of cognitive dissonance among the teachers. This study provides English teachers who work in a new context with pragmatic information and insights about the professional identity adjustment process. It also heightens their awareness of the possible professional identity transitions that they may go through. The study should help expatriate ESL teachers in the State of Qatar, in particular, to cope with a possible discrepancy between the idealism of their pedagogical and cultural theory, and their perceived reality of classroom practice.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Michael Holen / Research shows the practice of incorporating English language learner (ELL) students’ native languages (L1) into instruction to be a major factor enhancing their success in school. In this study, 327 predominantly English-speaking (PES) teachers in the state of Kansas were surveyed on their perspectives and self-reported behaviors related to this practice. Participants were divided among three targeted teacher groups: pre-service teachers with no ESL-specific university preparation (PS), experienced teachers with no ESL-specific university preparation (No-ESL), and experienced teachers with significant (at least three courses) ESL-specific university preparation (C-ESL). Findings from descriptive analyses indicated that while teachers generally supported L1 use in instruction, they tended to show stronger support for its underlying theory than for its practical implementation. Results from a series of ANOVA’s suggested a clear link between ESL-specific university preparation and an increased support for the theory and practice of L1 use in instruction. Findings further suggested links among some combination of teaching experience and an increase in support for this practice. A series of inter-correlations produced various modest to moderate significant relationships among experienced teachers’ perspectives and demographic variables (gender, experience with ELL students). While both No-ESL and C-ESL teachers reported behaviors incorporating L1 use into instruction to some degree, results from independent samples t-tests showed that CESL teachers reported these behaviors significantly more often than No-ESL teachers. For both experienced teacher groups, inter-correlations showed modest to moderate significant relationships among a number of perspective items and behavior items. Results further indicated that although both groups shared some common relationships among variables, for the most part, the relationships shown to be significant varied considerably by group. Open-ended questions revealed a variety of approaches used by teachers as well as a number of obstacles perceived by teachers in incorporating L1 use in instruction. Findings from this study are discussed in relation to strategies and directions for teacher educators with the responsibility of preparing PES teachers to effectively serve increasing ELL student populations.