The social reality of working overseas in the ‘Chinese Internationalised School’: Exploring cliques as a precarity and insecurity coping strategy

IF 1.4 Q2 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Journal of Research in International Education Pub Date : 2024-03-30 DOI:10.1177/14752409241242092
T. Bunnell, Adam Poole
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Abstract

The number of international schools hit the 6,000-mark in 2012, and the 13,000-mark in 2022. In spite of continuous growth and diversity of provision, paradoxically some literature continues to paint a largely negative sociological imagination, associating the arena with micro-politics, high turnover, and increasing precarity. At the same time, the social reality of working in the arena remains under-reported and under-theorised. The largest number of international schools are now in China, where two-thirds are of the ‘non-traditional’ type. Our paper focuses on the experiences of two expatriate teachers in that relatively new field. In order to address the questions of ‘how do teachers cope?’, and ‘what strategies do they adopt?’, our paper delves into the under-reported social reality of ‘cliques’. By adopting a ‘positive sociology’ lens of inquiry, we begin to address the role that cliques-formation might have in dealing with precarity and insecurity, especially that of ‘friendship precarity’ caused by constant transitions and short-term contracts. It can be seen that cliques offer a natural, quick, and practical solution to addressing precarity, helping over time to create resilience, and should not be viewed solely within a negative sociological imagination.
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中国国际化学校 "中海外工作的社会现实:探索作为不稳定和不安全应对策略的小团体
国际学校的数量在 2012 年达到 6000 所大关,在 2022 年达到 13000 所大关。尽管国际学校数量持续增长,办学形式也日趋多样化,但矛盾的是,一些文献继续描绘出一种消极的社会学想象,将国际学校与微观政治、高流动率和日益不稳定联系在一起。与此同时,对在该领域工作的社会现实的报道和理论研究仍然不足。目前,中国的国际学校数量最多,其中三分之二属于 "非传统 "类型。我们的论文侧重于两位外籍教师在这一相对较新领域的工作经历。为了解决 "教师如何应对 "和 "他们采取了哪些策略 "的问题,我们的论文深入探讨了 "小团体 "这一报道较少的社会现实。通过采用 "积极社会学 "的探究视角,我们开始探讨 "小团体 "的形成在应对不稳定性和不安全感方面可能发挥的作用,特别是由不断的过渡和短期合同造成的 "友谊不稳定性"。可以看出,小团体为解决不稳定问题提供了一种自然、快速、实用的解决方案,随着时间的推移,有助于形成复原力,而不应仅仅从消极社会学的想象角度来看待这一问题。
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来源期刊
Journal of Research in International Education
Journal of Research in International Education EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-
CiteScore
2.30
自引率
14.30%
发文量
11
期刊介绍: The Journal of Research in International Education is an international, peer-reviewed journal in international education for schools, examiners and higher education institutions throughout the world. The Journal of Research in International Education seeks to advance the understanding and significance of international education. It sets out to undertake a rigorous consideration of the educational implications of the fundamental relationship between human unity and human diversity that ''education for international understanding'' requires. The JRIE encourages an approach to research in international education that will close the gap between the well established emergent theory and diverse practice throughout the world. In this context, international education is concerned with the promotion of education for international understanding and human rights, and may include peace education, global education and intercultural education. Authors may address, for example, the curriculum, institutional concerns, the history of education, policy and pedagogy at all levels.
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