Confucius institute teachers in the UK: motivation,challenges, and transformative learning

Academic mobility has attracted much attention in recent educational research. Previous studies focus mainly on study abroad students; relatively little attention, however, has been paid to the growing numbers of teachers of Chinese as a second language working abroad in Confucius Institutes, non-profit public institutions that aim to promote Chinese language and culture, currently operating in some 500 Confucius Institutes and 1000 Confucius classrooms (local hubs in schools) in 134 countries. This paper explores the intercultural experience of a cohort of Confucius Institute Chinese Teachers working in the UK. Drawing on focus group discussions and interviews, it examines the factors associated with their motivation and the adjustments they make professionally and personally and the transformational power of intercultural experiences on teacher development. Finally, it offers suggestions for possible improvements in future international exchange programs.