Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to determine the metaphorical perceptions of classroom teacher candidates regarding teacher and teaching profession concepts. Study was conducted with 169 teacher candidates at Kastamonu University, Faculty of Education. A survey form, consisted of 2 open-ended questions, was used as data collection tool to set the teacher candidates’ perceptions, The participants were asked to fulfil the “Teacher is like …… because …..” and “Teaching profession is like…… because…..” expressions featured in the survey form. Gathered data was analyzed according to the content analysis technique. To modify  the integrity of the metaphors and the categories of them, the lists were shared with 3 field specialist academics. According to the contentions of the specialists, non-meshing metaphors were deliberated and the metaphors and categories used in the study were finalized. Accordingly it was found out that teacher candidates created 53 metaphors about teacher and 62 metaphors about teaching profession. As a result, it was stated that teacher candidates had positive perceptions regarding teacher concept on the other hand they created some negative metaphors about teaching profession. The reason for this was the thought that the teacher candidates perceived teaching as a hard, inappreciable and rigid profession.

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