This study investigated which aspects
of working with multilingual students bring joy to Finnish teachers. The data
was collected via an online survey from teachers working mainly in basic
education in Finland. The teachers (N = 588) reported
a positive stance toward multilingual learners. The greatest number of
responses (44%) cited students’ intrapersonal qualities, for example students’
motivation to learn and their academic, social, and emotional successes, as a source
of joy. The positive impact of diversity on the school community (14%) and the
teachers’ own development (12%) were the next most common sources of joy. Teachers with
more experience working with multilingual learners were more likely to name students
as a source of joy; similarly, teachers at schools with more multilingual learners
were more likely to reference these students as a source of joy. The findings
suggest that experience with many multilingual students promotes teachers’ commitment
to them.