Abstract:

The aim of this study is to determine preservice teachers’ metaphorical perceptions regarding the following concepts: school, school principal, Turkish education system, teacher and student. This qualitative study was designed according to the principles of phenomenological model. The participants of the study are 160 preservice teachers attending the Education Faculty of a state university located in Mid-Anatolia region of Turkey during the Spring semester of 2019-2020 academic year. The data was collected by asking the participants to complete the following sentences “I liken “school” (and others) to …. because…” The data were analyzed through content analysis. The results of the study revealed 4 themes for school, 5 themes about school principal, 4 themes about Turkish Education System, 4 themes for teacher and 4 themes about student. Teacher candidates generally likened school, school principal, Turkish Education System and student to negative things, while they likened teacher to positive things.

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