Summary:

The article gives insights in the topic of language and language learning concerning a) regaining professional status, b) communication and c) culture. The reader gets an insight on the professional development of immigrant teachers and multicultural teaching and learning. It shows the complexity of the process of becoming a teacher in a new country. Several implications for multicultural teaching and learning are given. As a narrative inquiry it reveals a perspective of the migrant teachers themselves on the topic of language, language learning and power. A major issue is the lacking confidence in themselves due to language issues and a lack of cultural awareness. Some concrete proposals for implementation are named (“Learning from the Experiences”):

- provide immigrant teachers with all available resources and information to expand their knowledge about opportunities for further education

- provide immigrant teachers with opportunities to move from subordinate to main positions (by administration in educational institutions)

- provide more opportunities to improve language skills (e.g. English) and professional expertise

- professional development courses for immigrant teachers should contain cultural and linguistic knowledge, new methodologies, and theoretical perspectives on teaching

- assist immigrant through workshops in learning more about novel ideas and directions in teaching

- suggest and support migrant teachers to form groups with the purpose of gaining the support they need

- in their workplace immigrant teachers’ need moral support and mentoring in understanding a culture that is alien to them

- experience and knowledge are respected and if possibilities for language learning are provided, their perceptions of themselves will change.

Language: English