Between a rock and a hard place: Introduction program teachers’ narrated experiences of residency and citizenship language requirements in Scandinavia

Abstract

This study investigates how language requirements for residency and citizenship influence the professional identities and sense of agency of introduction program language teachers throughout Scandinavia. While Denmark introduced formal language requirements two decades ago, language requirements were effectuated in Norway starting in 2017. In Sweden, requirements have been proposed, but not introduced. The data comprises narrative interviews with 24 experienced language and literacy teachers. Drawing on street-level bureaucracy theory and narrative positioning analysis, the study shows that the introduction of formal requirements represents a turning point in teachers’ professional narratives that are recognized as a gradual reduction of agency and a narrowing of the space where professional identities can be negotiated. Whereas the Swedish teachers largely identify as students’ agents, Norwegian and Danish language teachers to a larger extent, yet partly unwillingly, negotiate their professional roles at the intersection between policy and professional standards and in dialog with the policy demands.