Liminal spaces and places – Dilemmas in education for newly arrived students

Abstract

In this article, we analyse dilemmas in education for newly arrived students from a teacher perspective, and contribute theoretical understanding of these dilemmas with the help of the concept of liminality, which refers to any “betwixt and between” situation that cannot be easily categorised. The data has been gathered during a research- and development program at two different schools, during which we identified several dilemmas; organisational, pedagogical and social. If newly arrived students’ situation is viewed through the lens of liminality, it becomes clear that the dilemmas identified will likely continue to arise within the educational system. Recognizing these situations as dilemmas could provide other ways forward in understanding recurring issues, on an organizational, pedagogical and social level.

Keywords

• Newly arrived students
• Liminality
• Liminal state
• Dilemmas