Professional Lives in Transition: Shock, Turbulence and Adaptation in Teacher Identity Reconstruction

Overseas Trained Teachers (OTTs) in England represent an important part of the stock of teachers available. Teachers trained in the Caribbean are an important part of this group. From their experiences emerge a picture of shock, loss of professional status and turbulence in adjusting to teaching in England. Additionally, their experiences show a picture of new learning, increased awareness of SEN issues and improvements to their teaching practice. The fusion between situated (original conceptions and experiences of teaching) combined with localised (UK specific conceptions and approaches to teaching) produces an "Emergent" identity for the Caribbean teacher, that extends beyond the initial period of shock and turbulence thus enabling them to excel in the English education system where adequate and appropriate levels and types of support are provided.