From a student to a teacher educator: Becoming better acquainted with my new professional identity through self-study

Abstract

Acquiring a teacher educator identity can be challenging, especially when one comes straight from being a student of teaching. The purpose of this self-study was to investigate how I got acquainted with my teacher educator identity. The study is underpinned by the socio-cultural theory. The main data source was a reflective journal where I recorded my experience from multiple sources. I analysed the data in a narrative and reflective manner with my mentor. The key finding is that I acquainted myself with a teacher educator through engaging in Discourses with my mentor while interrogating past experiences that resembled student identity and interacting with experienced teacher educators. I narrate these findings and draw conclusions and recommendations.