ERIC Number: EJ1408521
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1029-5968
EISSN: EISSN-2521-6015
African International Teaching Assistants' Experience of Racial Microaggressions in a Canadian Higher Education Institution
Journal of the International Society for Teacher Education, v26 n1 p25-39 2022
Pervasive racial microaggressions (subtle and everyday racist acts) continue to challenge African international teaching assistants (AITAs) who strive to create conducive learning environments for students in a Canadian university. This qualitative study drew from racial microaggression theory and gathered data through semi-structured individual interviews to examine seven former AITAs' experiences of racism in their teaching assistant (TA) duties. Findings indicated that non-Black students doubted AITAs' subject-matter expertise, undermined their English communication skills, and often exhibited aggressive behaviours. Suggestions were made for current and future AITAs, course instructors, and universities that hire them to help improve the quality of AITAs' duties and their students' learning experiences. As previous studies largely overlook AITAs' experiences with racial microaggressions, this study makes significant contributions to the literature that, in turn, can inform policy.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Teaching Assistants, Foreign Students, Racism, Student Experience, Aggression, White Students, Student Attitudes
International Society for Teacher Education. Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Niels Juelsgade 84, 8210 Aarhus N. Denmark; e-mail: isftecontact@gmail.com; Web site: https://journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/jiste
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada; Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A