Browsing by Subject "ulkomaalaistaustaiset nuoret"

The aim of this study was to describe, analyze and interpret how immigrant-origin youth described their educational transitions, and if there were conflicting educational aspirations and views of learning possibilities. This study draws from previous research and the term aspiration-achievement paradox is presented. According to the paradox immigrant origin youth have positive attitudes towards school and education combined with learning difficulties. Another presented paradox is called optimism trap, in which immigrant youth are driven to higher educational achievements than their peers in majority population. The context of this study is Finnish comprehensive school and especially educational transition after 9th grade. The data of this study consists of two interviews of 9th grade immigrant-origin students. The interviews have been analyzed and stories have been created using narrative method. The data was collected as a part of research project in Faculty of Educational Sciences in University of Helsinki. The interviews have been collected using life course research method. Descriptions of the presented paradoxes were found in the interviews and the findings were compared with each other and previous research. The results of this study were partly aligned with previous research. Some conflicting descriptions were found in the interviews of educational aspirations and youth’s own understanding of their possibilities. The most important educational transitions were described as exciting and attitudes were positive. Differences were found in the way the students described their possibilities to move back to their parent’s home country: only one of the interviewees considered moving back in the near future. A paradox was found where mediocre school achievements were combined with positive attitudes towards school and education and high aspirations in the transitions after comprehensive school. However, there was no description found of the youth comparing themselves with the majority population or of the view that their possibilities would be different compared to their peers in majority population. The interviewees were about to start their educational careers and paradoxes like optimism trap would be possibly visible only later on. Both of the interviewees were planning to study in the university, even though there might have been some other suitable options for them as well.