Exploring Academic Competitions: A Phenomenological Study of Foreign Teachers Coaching Students for Local and International Competitions

This study sought to explore the experiences of foreign teachers coaching for academic competitions. Applying transcendental phenomenological research. Following Moustaka's four main processes in conducting phenomenological research, the researcher transcribed the interview material, then read and re-read it to develop codes and classified them into categories and themes. The researcher determined six themes from the interview recordings by considering the Conservation of Resources Theory by Hobfoll (1989) as the basis, which were then thoroughly evaluated. The data analysis revealed that foreign teachers' experiences in coaching for academic competitions could be described using the following themes: Teacher educational career, remarkable experience, support, strategies in coaching, challenges in coaching and teacher reflection. Coaching experiences might inspire teachers to continue developing and coaching students. However, not all cases are the same due to the circumstances they face. The results revealed that teachers who received support from the school and other stakeholders were content with their experience, which gave them a positive attitude toward academic competition. The findings suggested that students, teachers, and schools should be adequately prepared before participating in a competition, whether local or international. Teachers and students must be willing to confront any problems that may arise throughout the preparation process. The school can provide assistance to teachers by offering training, materials, and emotional support, as well as other support such as time, money, or tokens of appreciation.