Student teachers’ experiences of practical training in a foreign culture

ABSTRACT

Teacher education is usually located in a national context. In this study, the focus is on teacher education located in a foreign studying environment. Student teachers from the southern part of Africa started their teacher education in Finland. The context is their first practicum in Finnish teacher training school. The data consist of one portfolio task of 18 student teachers concerning teaching experiences in a practicum. The content of reflective tasks were analysed based on three dimensions: sensitising, contextual and technical reflection. In addition, the transformation of the teachers’ understanding of teaching work was analysed. Despite cultural and linguistic differences, it is possible to find meaningful sensitising, contextual and technical content in reflective tasks. Teachers’ understanding of teaching work transformed during their first experience abroad.

KEYWORDS:

• Reflection
• transformative learning
• teacher education
• Finland
• foreign students
• qualitative analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Satakunta Regional Fund

Notes on contributors

Teija Koskela

Teija Koskela is University research fellow at University of Turku, Department of Teacher Education, Rauma Campus. She has more than 20 years experience of Finnish Teacher Education. Her research focuses mostly on inclusive practices, teacher education, sustainable development and social inequality issues in education.

Päivi Granö

Päivi Granö is a University research fellow, at University of Turku, Department of Teacher Education, Rauma campus. Her previous work experience is e.g. Programme director, University of Turku; Professor of Art Education, University of Lapland; Professor of Landscape Studies, University of Turku. Her research focuses on the visual culture of children and youth, landscape, cultural environment, Finnish and international teacher education and visual methods.

Brita Somerkoski

Brita Somerkoski works as Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, Finland. Brita´s current research is about fire safety for early education aged children as well as school safety and security issues. Her other research areas are occupational safety, gamification, injury prevention, student internationalization and curriculum research.