중국 예비유아교사가 생각하는 가르침의 의미

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to understand preservice kindergarten teachers’ belief systems on teaching and their recognized meaning of teaching so that they can redefine their own perceptions of teaching. Methods To this end, this study selected 90 consistently participatory students out of a total of 102 students enrolled in the childhood education program’s third term early childhood teacher education course at a 4-year college of education in the S district of Jilin province, China, and collected data through multiple methods including conducting discussions, image analysis, and kindergarten class video analysis. Results The study’s results showed that Chinese preservice kindergarten teachers’ understanding of the meaning of teaching can be broadly categorized into: two-way interaction, social responsibility and duty, problem-solving situations in daily life and directly related activities, and optimistic and harmonious emotional development and related activities. Conclusions The findings show that first, teaching is not merely a means to an end but an act pursuing goodwill in and of itself, is a practical execution that goes beyond being a tool, and is a “relative” practical execution that requires the responsibility of having the ability to react. Second, as an act that tells the learner the direction they should go in and passes on an understanding of the directionality learners ought to make judgments with, teaching is an act that requires responsibility and a sense of duty. Thus, the meaning of teaching to a teacher must expand and teachers must develop the ability to independently recognize and judge the way they teach. Third, as the act of teaching is related to problem-solving in daily life, practical knowledge must be emphasized and developed. Fourth, since the act of teaching is related to optimistic and harmonious emotional development, the perception of teaching and a positive job identity are very important. The conclusion of this study suggests that recognizing teaching morality before executing the teaching role at the preservice kindergarten teacher stage and making philosophical reflections about teaching are necessary.