This qualitative research study analyses the causal conditions of educational, cultural and ideological issues that emerged as a result of Expatriate teaching experiences in secondary schools in Singapore. The study also examines how the foreign educational environment affects the performance of the Expatriate Teacher (ExT). Specifically, the results provide insight into how Expatriate Teachers (ExTs) conceive of notions of work, teaching and learning and how they come to terms with, and adjust to employment within a foreign teaching environment. Seven teacher-participants were selected on the basis of their individual experiences as an ExT or experiences working alongside ExTs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the UK, Singapore and Australia to explore teacher-participants' teaching conceptions and experiences. Two Pilot interviews were conducted prior to the Interview Schedules being made available to the participants. One pilot interview was subsequently included in the analysis. Aspects of Grounded Theory methodology, in particular the Constant Comparison method, were utilised to categorise and analyse data. Analysis of the data was also facilitated using the computer software programme NUD*IST 6. The findings identified three related and interwoven themes which categorised the issues as experienced by the seven teacher-participants. One is the Conditional Variables of the physical, structural and organizational setting. The second is the resident Proficiencies and Attributes of the ExT, which includes ideologies, values and expectations. The third includes Configurations of Culture such as work culture, subject culture and cultural adaptations. The study outlines how Incongruity and Dissonance can operate within and between these three themes and indicates implications for improving the experiences of ExTs and other stakeholders.

This study is situated in the field of cultural intelligence (CQ) research. It involves expatriate teachers employed at a college for Emirati women in the United Arab Emirates who are all EFL trained native English speakers with a minimum of 5 years overseas teaching experience. This interpretive study explores these teachers’ understandings of cultural intelligence through individual interviews and focus groups. In so doing it contributes to the discussion on expatriate teachers constructs of what it is to be culturally intelligent, and augments knowledge on the cultural intelligence construct itself through rich qualitative data. The research design and subsequent data analysis are informed by Sternberg and Detterman’s (1986) multi-loci of intelligence theory, and Earley and Ang’s (2003) multi-factor construct of cultural intelligence; metacognitive CQ, cognitive CQ, motivational CQ, and behavioural CQ . Results suggest that these four factors of CQ feature in the respondents constructs of cultural intelligence. Metacognitive CQ is evident in the importance placed on being alert to the cultural context and of consciously assessing and reassessing cultural knowledge before making decisions about how to proceed appropriately. Cognitive CQ is displayed in the significance cultural knowledge has for the participants; the data suggest that cognitive CQ is evident in the willingness and the effort made to learn specific cultural information pertaining to the context. For the respondents the desire to travel and engage with different cultures and a confidence in their own ability to manage successfully in novel cultural settings is clear evidence of motivational CQ. The results show that not only do the participants demonstrate behavioural CQ in their actions, they also employ strategies to facilitate accurate acquisition of cultural norms of behaviour through adopting a non-threatening observe and listen approach. In addition the study produced some interesting findings related to the context and attitudes to Arab culture such as the idea of the Arabic language as a cultural ‘gate-keeper’. Other findings that warrant further study include the strong association the respondents made between language learning and CQ, close personal relationships and CQ, age and ‘stage of life’ influences on CQ development, and the correlation these respondents felt exists between EFL teacher qualities and CQ capabilities.