Being a rara avis: the educational experiences of Bulgarian children

in schools in Great Britain

Yordanka Valkanova

Key issues of the transition to schools in Britain

• School starting age

• Traditional style of teaching in Eastern Europe

• More extensive mathematics and science curriculum in their home countries

• Textbooks

• Homework

• Language issues

Bulgarian Educational System

Phare programme

Nursery school

Traditional style of schooling

Labour lessons

New technologies

Art

Theoretical framework Cultural-historical activity theory

approach• Subject-object relation• Hierarchical structure of activity • Motive – goal • Genetic-historical approach • Adults’ role in children’s cognitive development• Internalisation-Externalisation• Mediation

Research questions

• What are the learning experiences of the Bulgarian children during the transition from their home countries to the UK and how they fit their prior learning experiences in their home countries?

• What are parents’ understandings of the philosophy of schooling in Britain in relation to the needs of their children and they seek to attain them?

• What are teachers’ understanding of the process of transition and the cultures of the newly arrived migrants?

Interviews Children

a. prior experience (curriculum, grades; interests, social and cultural issues)b. experiences in British schools (motivation, transition of skills and knowledge,

learning, social environment, sense of self as a learner)

Parents

a. knowledge of the educational system in Britain b. evaluation of the transition process

Teachers

a. school policy towards the process of transition. b. knowledge about the educational background of their studentsc. knowledge about the educational systems of student’ home countries

Self as a learner

Motivation

Escape and shameI don’t want to be a labour. I had to study hard.

Ivan, 14

New Learning Identity

‘I do not develop new knowledge here’

Deciding what needs to be done

• Information for parents

• Traditional style of teaching in Eastern Europe

• Additional mathematics and science activities

• Cultural issues

• Language issues

• A level Bulgarian Language