Exploring student teachers’ motivation change in initial teacher education: A Chinese perspective

Abstract

Informed by a multiple, integrated perspective on teacher motivations, this study explores ten student teachers' motivation change throughout a pre-service language teacher education program in China. Drawing on data from the participants' personal reflections, focus group interviews, and individual interviews, this study reveals how the participants' motivations were shaped and reshaped through their professional practice and social interactions in relation to their self-efficacy, outcome expectations, professional autonomy, and social support in their learning context. This study concludes with some implications for policy makers and teacher educators on how to cultivate and promote pre-service teachers' motivations and commitments towards teaching as a life-long career.

Reference

Yuan, R., & Zhang, L. J. (2017). Exploring student teachers' motivation change in initial teacher education: A Chinese perspective. Teaching and Teacher Education, 61, 142-152.

Journal

Teaching and Teacher Education

Analysis

Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?

Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?

Research Approach

cross-case analysis
Qualitiative

Geographic Setting

Beijing

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

ELT (English-language teaching) primary, secondary and tertiary levels

Programatic Focus

ELT (English Language Teaching)

Research Location Context

Not stated

Preservice Participants

Undergraduates (university based program)

Preservice Sample Size

Duration of Data Collection

Data Sources

Focus group interviews
Interviews
reflections

Data Analysis Tools

cross-case analysis
Inductive analysis
member checking

Researcher Positionality

inside (staying their own students)

Research Questions

"What motivated the participants to become teachers?" (p. 144).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes

"What change, if any, did the participants experience in their motivations during their pre-service language teacher education?" (p. 144).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes