The Participation Experiences of Chinese Teacher Trainees and Their Finnish Teacher Trainer on an In-Service Teacher Training Program Exported From Finland to China

Purpose:This paper aims to examine the participation experiences of a sample of Chinese teacher trainees and their Finnish teacher trainer on an in-service teacher training program exported from Finland to Beijing,China.Design/Approach/Methods:Six science teachers from Beijing and their Finnish teacher trainer participated in semi-structured interviews.From the ideological perspective of international education,a total of eight semi-structured interviews were analyzed through qualitative content analysis.Findings:The results show that all interviewees were highly motivated to learn from the Other's education system and culture.Some participants benefited from a broader understanding of the Self's and the Other's education systems,while others did not.The interviewees also described some participation challenges,such as language barriers and practices that adapted learner-centered teaching approaches in Beijing schools.Furthermore,the interviewees mentioned future expectations of more in-depth communication between Finland and China.Originality/Value:Some recommendations for better training outcomes,improving the quality of participation experiences,and reaching more mutual understandings were discussed at the end of this study.