Facilitating Professional Development During International Practicums: Understanding Our Work as Teacher Educators Through Critical Incidents

• In Event: 46.076 - Transforming Self Through Intercultural Experiences

Abstract

Two teacher educators, who facilitated professional development sessions for local hosting teachers while leading teacher candidates (TCs) on international practicum placements, reflect on critical incidents that required them to think deeply about their beliefs and practices in new/different contexts. While the sites of these international experiences differed, common findings affirmed the complexities of border crossing as teacher educators and highlighted tensions to be navigated when working in trans-cultural settings. Implications for teacher educators working with teachers during international placements include the need to engage in parallel journeys to the teacher candidates they accompany, particularly the importance of adopting a global perspective and a deep consciousness of how one is perceived by others who are culturally, racially, or linguistically different.

Authors

• Judy Joy Williams, Monash University

• Arlene Grierson, Nipissing University