The Quest to Prepare Future Teachers to Implement Culturally Responsive Ideologies

Abstract

This qualitative quantitative study examined future teachers’ ideologies toward emergent bilinguals (EBs). Data were gathered through administration of Fitzsimmons-Doolan’s 2011 ideology dimensions survey at the beginning of an academic semester. At the end of the term, participants answered two open-ended questions. Results document that the future teachers mediated their philosophical stances as they examined the differences between topics in their university studies and prior experiences. Four themes that concerned the future teachers emerged in the data analysis: cultural assumptions, academic and affective needs, right to plurilingualism, curricular insights. The themes indicate that preparing teachers through an identity directed lens, empowers them and builds their agency.