The Transition from Teaching in an International Context Back to New Zealand

While there can be benefits from having overseas teaching experience, the transition back to New Zealand is not always easy for teachers who have previously gained their initial teaching qualification and certification in New Zealand. Upon returning to New Zealand from teaching in an international context, teachers can find it difficult having their overseas teaching experience and knowledge valued and recognised. This article reports on a study of 40 teachers who, after gaining experience teaching in an international context, transitioned back to New Zealand. Findings illustrated that while their overseas experiences provided benefits for the teachers, their transition back to New Zealand was challenging and, for some, a time of frustration and disillusionment. In particular, the challenges were associated with having their international teaching experiences valued, re-culturing back to the New Zealand educational context and getting recognition for certification and remuneration purposes.