Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate pre-service teachers’ motivations toward teaching profession and their opinions about pedagogical formation program. In this study descriptive and correlational research methods were used. It was carried out with (a) graduate students doing a master’s program without thesis, (b) undergraduate students participating in the pedagogic formation program. The total number of participants was 301. The data were collected using an evaluation scale for pre-service teachers doing a post-graduate certificate program in Education (PGCE). The participants of the present study seemed to be interested in the teaching profession chiefly due to intrinsic and altruistic orientations. One of the basic sources of motivation for pre-service teachers coming from sources other than education faculties can be the love for their subject area and opportunities to be found to conduct applications related to their disciplines when they become teachers. The positive teaching experiences of the pre-service teacher and their enthusiasm for teaching the subjects in their fields are important sources of motivation for the profession of teaching.

Key words: Motivation towards teaching profession, pre-service teachers, teacher education, teacher training program.