Narrative Inquiry: A Methodology for Studying German Migrant Teachers' Experiences in Australian Classrooms

Despite their significant contribution to Australian school life, there has been little research into migrant teachers in Australia. The few studies which are available report difficulties with cultural adaptation for migrant teachers in areas related to pedagogy, language, and classroom management. However, research in Australia has mainly investigated experiences of teachers of Asian backgrounds, while teachers from western European countries have thus far been under-researched. As part of an ongoing research project into the experiences of German migrant teachers, this paper presents the analysis and discussion of survey data recently collected from ten German teachers. The study has used narrative inquiry to provide important insights into the teachers' experiences of adjustment to the Australian school system. The teachers' narratives revealed new perspectives on the cultural dimension of teaching practices and its effects on the individual in cross-cultural classroom situations. The exploration of these problem areas was especially detailed thanks to the narrative inquiry method, which allowed for in-depth and rich comparative data. The findings may inform teacher education courses and orientation programs for overseas-trained teachers, as well as stimulate debate about school policy in Australia and Germany.