Modersmålslärarnas roll i dagens svenska skola : En studie av sex Stockholmsbaserade modermålslärares arbetssättt, resuser och roll i dagens svenska skola

The fact that Sweden has changed from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous culture with multiculturalism as key word requires an intercultural approach in the community and school. The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers of maternal languages experience their teaching in school and what resources they have available from their employer and the municipality. What methods do the teachers in maternal languages use in their teaching at school and what resources do they have to their disposal? How do teachers in maternal languages use the perspective of intercultural education in their teaching and how do the teachers look on their future role in the Swedish school. To achieve this I have chosen the method to make depth interviews with 6 teachers of maternal languages and compare and relate the result to the theories about interculturality and the circle model, to official curricula and to existing literature in this subject. Teachers of maternal languages are very spread out, they work in several schools and sometimes even in different municipalities, during the same week. This makes cooperation with the other members of staff very difficult which also affects the students negatively. According to the teachers the studies in maternal language tend to be taken less seriously than other subjects as they are voluntary. The lessons normally take place after ordinary school hours when the pupils are tired and find it difficult to concentrate on their studies. If it could be scheduled during ordinary school time the subject would, believe the teachers, probably get a higher status and there would be more possibilities for cooperation with the other teachers. I would like to conclude by referring to the vision one of the teachers I interviewed, "A", had of the substance development of teaching in maternal languages, "I wish that all teachers / teachers in maternal languages and principals cooperate to create a learning environment where everyone can work together towards common goals and shared responsibility for students 'learning situation." This is intercultural education in action if it works