Abstract

The aim of this research is to define the perceptions of prospective special education teachers regarding special education teacher through metaphors. Phenomenology design was used in this research. The study group comprised 116 third year prospective special education teachers studying at Marmara University, Ataturk Faculty of Education, Special Education (Mentally Disabled Teaching) Department. The prospective special education teachers were asked to fill a form featuring the phrases, “The special education teacher is like (similar to) …….; because …..” The data were analyzed through content analysis.  The results showed that the metaphors created by prospective special education teachers on the concept of special education teacher were grouped under ten categories. These categories are: (1) Patience and devotion; (2) Difficulty of profession; (3) Source of love and affection; (4) Complementing; (5) Superiority of profession; (6) Life coaching/guidance; (7) Weariness of profession; (8) Skill teaching; (9) Social leadership/enlightening, and (10) Social prejudices. All these categories were discussed within the scope of previous researches and some concrete research proposals were suggested for further studies.

Key words: Special education, teacher, prospective teacher, metaphor.