Boundary Crossing and the Professional Learning of Teacher Educators in New International Contexts

Judith Joy Williams, Amanda Berry

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

    27 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In this collaborative self-study, two teacher educators examine their experiences of working in new international contexts and the impact of those experiences on their professional learning and identities. Mandi moved from a major research university in one country to another, while Judy co-led a group of pre-service teachers on an international practicum for three weeks each year for three years. Using the concept of boundary crossing as a theoretical and analytical framework, each teacher educator identified a boundary-related critical incident or experience that occurred during her work in new international contexts. Through individual and collaborative analysis of their critical incidents, they found that working as a teacher educator in new international contexts involves the crossing and re-crossing of multiple personal, professional, linguistic and cultural boundaries. Working in these boundary spaces involved learning how to negotiate new kinds of relationships with colleagues and students, manage changed roles and responsibilities and, ultimately, a search for a renewed sense of self, as each sought to understand herself differently within a new professional context.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)135-151
    Number of pages17
    JournalStudying Teacher Education
    Volume12
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2016

    Keywords

    • boundary crossing
    • boundary spaces
    • critical incidents
    • cross-cultural transitions
    • international teacher education
    • Teacher educator professional learning

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