EVALUATION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER CANDITATES’ DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF OCCUPATIONAL EFFICACY

This study aims at determining the desire of pre-service foreign language teachers to improve themselves in terms of professional development. The study was conducted on a total number of 178 fourth year students attending English, German and French teacher education departments at Dokuz Eylül University. A questionnaire was used to understand whether gender and department have an effect on their desire to improve themselves. According to the t-test scores applied to the findings, gender was not effective on their desire for self improvement. The study also revealed that pre-service German language teaching applicants had lower motivation to improve themselves in terms of professional development in comparison with pre-service French and English language teaching applicants. The findings and results of the study help foreign language teachers and teacher candidates to develop their visions throughout their careers.