A qualitative study of host country national teachers' perspectives on belonging at an international school in Peru

Abstract

This dissertation study utilized a qualitative research design to inquire into the experiences of host country national teachers who worked at an international school located in the country of Peru. Prior research involving international education has focused on expatriate teachers and third culture kids, but little research has investigated the experiences of locally hired host national teachers. Five participants were recruited from an international school in Peru to answer questions about their work experiences through an online questionnaire. The participants were then invited to semi-structured interviews that took place on the ZOOM online video program. The study was framed around the central question: How do Peruvian host country national teachers working at an international school located in Peru perceive of their status and overall sense of belonging at the school? The following sub-questions were also addressed: 1) How do local teachers navigate the organizational structure within an international school community located within their home country? 2) How do local teachers define their relationships with the international community of expat teachers, students, and their families as a whole? 3) What are local teachers’ perceptions of their status within the international school in which they work? Findings show that the locally hired teachers feel that their salaries and professional opportunities are not congruent with those of foreigner hires. Additionally, locally hired teachers described some foreign employees’ attitudes and actions as paternalistic toward locals and an unequal power structure among staff within the school. Recommendations for the future include providing host country national teachers with more opportunities to gain international training and certification, as well as cross-cultural training for foreigner hires to even the playing field between that of overseas and locally hired staff members.