Pre-training orientations and dispositions of pre-service PE teachers in the Hong Kong Institute of Education

What dispositions and orientations did pre-service PE teachers bring to their PE teacher education programme? This paper responds this question by presenting an interpretive study of how twenty pre-service teachers gave meaning to their anticipatory socialisation experiences. Data were collected through interviewing and writing in a reflective journal. Three themes concerning their career choice, image of a good PE teacher, and conceptions of PE experience emerged from the data. The participants were found to possess orientations towards coaching, teaching affinity, pragmatic considerations, apprehensiveness, and an easy-going style before joining the programme. They identified "sports skills and knowledge in PE", "instructional and interpersonal internation skills", and "personal attributes" as characterisitcs of a good PE teacher. They were concerned about the "sports training", "learning in the PE lessons", "sports experience in the primary school", "winning and losing episodes", and "negative modelling of the secondary school PE teachers" as critical incidents of their notable PE experiences. The findings provide a better understanding of the type of pre-service PE teachers attracted to the programmes. It is further noted that teacher education programmes are advised to include information regarding "commitment to teaching" and "life-long learning" as early as possible in their programmes.