Anticipatory socialisation of pre-service PE teachers in the Hong Kong Institute of Education

The paper presents a qualitative study of anticipatory socialization of twenty pre-service physical education teachers taking the two-year full-time course. With an occupational socialization and interpretive research perspective, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, reflective journals, and critical incident analysis during the first month of their joining the programme. The study found that the participants possessed different personality types and attitudinal dispositions including orientations toward sports coaching, teaching affinity, apprehensiveness, pragmatic considerations, and an easy-going style. In addition, their career choices to join the teacher education programme were related to themes such as sports continuation, service, employment security, occupational alternatives, as well as the social, cultural, and economic milieu of Hong Kong. The results demonstrate significant anticipatory socialization experiences of pre-service PE teachers in Hong Kong. The study suggests that teacher education programmes should not only acquaint pre-service PE teachers with professional knowledge, skills, and competence, but should also challenge pre-service PE teachers’ preconceptions and infuse them with a commitment, vision, and mission toward teaching PE. Copyright © 2006 The International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance.