‘I feel like they don’t want us to stay’: identity negotiation and agency of international prospective teachers learning to teach in the United States / ‘Tengo la sensación de que no quieren que nos quedemos’: negociación de identidad y agencia de futuros docentes internacionales que aprenden a enseñar en los Estados Unidos

Abstract

With the rise in globalization and transnational migration, universities worldwide are experiencing an influx of international students, some of whom choose to pursue teaching as a profession. Despite the growing presence of international prospective teachers (IPTs), they continue to be positioned as outsiders through dominant discourses and teacher preparation practices. Employing narrative inquiry, the study examined how four IPTs navigated learning to teach in a predominantly White teacher education programme at a large public university in the United States. Inspired by the podcast This American Life, the study presented three ‘Acts’ that illustrate the complex stories of how IPTs negotiated multifaceted ascribed outsider identities — linguistically as non-native speakers, socially and culturally as international students, and professionally as foreign employees. The study also discussed situations where IPTs’ sense of agency was achieved, particularly when they embraced identity positions from an asset-based and strength-focused perspective. The study offered recommendations to teacher education researchers, practitioners and policymakers on supporting IPTs and other educators from minoritized backgrounds to join and thrive in the teaching profession.