Une étude multicas des pratiques de soutien des enseignants du primaire
auprès d’élèves immigrants
This research studies teaching practices that support immigrant students recently arrived in Quebec. In most cases, those students have limited French proficiency and are required to be integrated into regular primary classes. A qualitative study was conducted with two teachers and their three immigrant students. Data collection was based on: 1) Classroom observation that allowed for documenting teaching support practices in real classroom context, 2) One to one interviews with teachers to understand their reasons when applying their supporting practices, 3) One to one interviews with students to comprehend their points of view regarding teaching support practices. Furthermore, some of the student’s written work was analysed. The research data is presented using a multi-case study that describes teaching practices for each participating teacher. For each case-study, the data was categorised based on twenty two supporting sequences described in regards to the context of each class. Then, the data was analysed using two theoretical complementary approaches: the teaching work analysis framework, and the cultural-historical approach.  The results of this research emphasize on the significance of teaching practice that is co-constructed by collaborative interactions occurring between the teachers and their students. These interactions are defined by students and teachers mutual contributions correlated to specific classroom factors. The analysis of teacher’s reasons shows that implementing and processing of teaching support practices are influenced by the decisions that teachers must make momentarily when they encounter a student difficulty. Teachers’ decisions result from an inner negotiation process. Teachers have to choose quickly between implementing supporting practices and maintaining their on-going prescribed tasks. This negotiation process is continued between the teacher and the student during their interactions in order to co-construct the support practice. The concepts borrowed from historical-cultural approach facilitate understanding the dialectical relationship between the student and the teacher during their interfaces. Both the teacher and the student adjust their behaviors towards each other to re-define the meaning of difficulty. Consequently, teaching support practices are shaped concurrently by the teacher’s inner negotiation process and the external negotiation with their students, and also influenced by the context factors of the class. This research main contribution is reinforcing and developing our understanding to teaching practices of support in the context of the regular classroom.
Teaching practice of support Immigrant student Interaction between student and teacher Multiethnic context Linguistic integration Sociocultural integration