Négociations identitaires d'enseignants immigrants en insertion professionnelle du primaire et du secondaire au Québec

Since the late 1990s, research has increasingly focused on the professional integration of immigrant teachers. It is generally argued that these professionals represent a positive contribution to host societies (Bascia, 1996 ; Bauer & Akkari, 2016 ; Beynon, Ilieva & Dichupa, 2004 ; Broyon, 2016 ; Deters, 2006 ; Kailasanathan, 2013 ; Myles, Cheng & Wang, 2006 ; Niyubahwe, Mukamurera & Jutras, 2019 ; Phillion, 2003 ; Quiocho & Rios, 2000). However, the challenges they face become sources of tension, compromising the migration project (Niyubahwe, 2014). This can provoke a questioning about their identity and undermine their conceptions regarding their self-representation as teachers, as well as the relationship with students, teachers and the profession (Duchesne, 2017 ; Laghzaoui, 2011 ; Niyubahwe, 2014). This research aims to understand how these teachers negotiate the transition from a professional identity developed in their country of origin, to a new teacher identity in Quebec. The analysis, supported by the concepts of professional integration in teaching (Mukamurera, Martineau, Bouthiette & Ndoreraho, 2013), acculturation strategies (Berry, 2005) and professional identity (Dubar, 2015), focuses on the dynamic and interactive process of immigrant teachers identity development. The analysis allows us to identify the challenges of acculturation specific to their professional integration, to describe the strategies they mobilized and to explain the identity negotiation process that allows them to redefine themselves as teachers in Quebec.  For this interpretative qualitative research the data was collected using an online questionnaire as well as semi-structured individual and group interviews. The results show that the challenges identified by the participants mainly concern employment access. In addition, a perception of discrimination regarding ethnocultural status or origin is often mentioned. Identity tensions are also reflected in an inconsistency between the image of themselves as professionals, before and after immigration. These lead to the mobilization of acculturation strategies to negotiate these tensions in order to redefine their professional identity. The analysis shows a strong representation of assimilation strategies (Berry, 2005) associated with the desire to conform to the environment's expectations. In addition, certain integration strategies (Berry, 2005) are identified, illustrating the establishment of intercultural exchanges contributing to the host society. Scientifically, the research shows two main contributions: the illustration of identity negotiation postures highlighting the role of interactions in the development of immigrant teachers' professional identity, and the adaptation of a model for analyzing the challenges of professional integration that takes into account the migratory path. In addition, this thesis contributes to knowledge of cultural integration by offering school establishments, concerned ministries and universities, avenues regarding the needs of immigrant teachers. These could also stimulate the reflection of the authorities concerned about the measures to put in place to promote the retention of school personnel, the quality of teaching, as well as students' academic perseverance.

Keyphrases: acculturation, immigrant teacher, migratory path, professional integration, integration challenges, professional identity, identity tensions, identity strategies, acculturation strategies