Teacher Candidates’ (Pedagogical Formation Students’) Communication Skills
- 1 Faculty of Education, Educational Sciences, University of Düzce, Educational Administration and Supervision, Düzce, Turkey
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify pedagogical formation students’ (teacher candidates’) communication skills based on their perceptions. The study sought answers to the following research question: What are the perceptions of pedagogical formation students (teacher candidates) related to their communication skills? Assessment of pedagogical formation students’ (teacher candidates’) perceptions regarding their communication skills was undertaken through qualitative research methods. Qualitative data collected with the help of semi-structured interview form were analyzed in terms of content. The study was conducted with the participation of 48 teacher candidates attending pedagogical formation classes at Düzce University during 2013-2014 academic year. According to the data obtained at the end of the study, teacher candidates are aware of the necessity and importance of communication. They are aware that the prerequisite for being contented, successful and social individuals and professionals is healthy and good communication with others. Teacher candidates know the importance and necessity of body language in effective communication and generally prefer to use it. They are also aware of the need for written and oral communication when required. Psychological situations such as anxiety, stress, lack of self-efficacy, timidity, fear and excitement are regarded as barriers that inhibit communication. These barriers are followed by being misunderstood, lack of feedback and language, culture, prior information and prejudices related to inappropriate context/environment and persons involved in communication. Teacher candidates express that they can develop communication skills by participating in social activities. They also state that they can develop communication skills by reading books/articles/research findings, participating in courses/seminars/conferences, meeting new and different people and taking training-expert support.
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