This qualitative study deals with experiences regarding the teaching of newcomer students in introductory courses, pertaining solely to the newcomer students’ perception of religion as a school subject. The essay is based on an analysis of a series of interviews with teachers of the aforementioned students. The questions are based on pedagogical challenges and usage of intercultural pedagogy. Another important question is how the teaching environment is affected by external factors such as cultural/religious tendencies, student guidance counsellors, interpreters, family of students as well as school leadership. The material comprising five interviews has consequently been analyzed using two different theories: intercultural pedagogy and orientalism. The results of the study divulge a lack of knowledge in intercultural pedagogy among the interviewees and major flaws in the transfer of that specific pedagogical perspective in both teacher education and school. Experiences have been accounted for that point to the existence of "the other" in introduction to language studies and that core values of the curriculum are not respected to the extent that they should. Another tendency is a general lack of response and guidance from school leadership. Interviewed teachers experience that they are forced to take personal responsibility for the education of newcomer students despite lack of education in the field of intercultural pedagogy. By illustrating the teacher's perspective of religious studies with newcomer students we are hoping to further promote the importance of competence in introduction to language studies.