Teachers' Journeys into International School Teaching in China: Exploring Motivations and Mobilities

The book "Host Country National Teachers in Internationalised Schools in China" explores the experiences and perspectives of host country national teachers at internationalised schools in China, identifying three types of teachers: Returners, Reachers, and Remainers. It highlights the motivations and mobilities of these teachers, discussing implications for teacher recruitment, development, and retention in international schools.

Format: Hardback
Length: 100 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book by Pooles sheds light on the experiences and viewpoints of host country national teachers working at internationalized schools in China. The international school sector in China has witnessed significant transformations in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for international education from local middle-class families. As a result, a new breed of schools has emerged, known by various names such as private, bilingual, or internationalized. These schools offer a blend of national and international curricula and are predominantly staffed by host country national teachers.

Despite these developments, there is still limited knowledge about who host country national teachers are and what motivates them to pursue careers in international schooling. To address this gap, the book delves into the motivations and mobilities of host country national teachers in China. It identifies three distinct types of teachers: Returners, Reachers, and Remainers.

Returners are graduates who have returned to China from overseas study. They are drawn to international schools by the opportunity to leverage their international experience and qualifications. Reachers are internal migrants who face structural inequalities and are attracted to international schools due to the potential for social mobility. Remainers are married teachers with children. They are motivated to work in international schools by the perceived stability and security these schools offer.

In discussing the implications of teacher recruitment, development, and retention in international schools, the book serves as a valuable resource for international educational researchers and students interested in researching international education or teacher identity.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032499727