Pre-Service Teachers’ Views on Pre-Service Teacher Training Program: A Qualitative Research

This research is a qualitative research aimed to determine the views of pre-service teachers about the pre-service teacher training program. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological design. The participants of the research consisted of 55 pre-service teachers selected through maximum variation sampling method. Participants of the study participated in pre-service teacher training program in the province of Eski？ehir in the academic year of July 2015-2016. The data of the research is collected through structured interview form involving open-ended questions. In the analysis of the data, descriptive analysis is utilized. The findings of the research are addressed in three main themes, namely in-class and in-school activities, out-of-school activities, and in-service training activities. The findings revealed that some of the pre-service teachers have positive thoughts regarding pre-service teacher training process while some have negative views. They also emphasized some problems encountered in lesson planning and material preparation, classroom monitoring, participation in managerial activities, institutional awareness, and institutional and in-service trainings. To handle these problems, different professional development activities for pre-service teachers, the selection of experienced and voluntary counseling teachers, trainings for counselors, cooperation between the education faculties and the Ministry of National Education are suggested