Russian-speaking immigrant teachers in Finnish classrooms : Views and lived experiences in Finnish education

Abstract

Success of integration depends, amongst other things, on immigrants’ involvement in the host country’s education. Educational differences between home and host countries can either promote or hinder academic progress of immigrants and, consequently, overall process of their integration. The goal of this study is to investigate what effect differences between educational systems of Finland and neighbouring Russia may have on professional induction of Russian-speaking immigrant teachers in Finland. This is done through researching experiences of Russian-speaking teachers in Finnish education. Their views and interpretations of their own eligibility and Finnish schooling practices lay foundation of this research.