Abstract:

Three Practicum students, three sets of personal surprises, within one overall theme: the struggle of a trainee teacher in implementing change both in the classroom and in the wider context of the school ethos. In poster form, through photos and diary entries their stories are told. The students’ achievements were witnessed by their supervisor who awarded them distinctions in three different categories: ‘The most Improved Trainee Teacher’, ‘Most Adept at Teaching Special Needs’, and ‘Master Class Trainee Teacher’. The poster enables ‘outside’ readers (they, you and I) to associate with the experiences and orientations of the trainee teachers, allowing us “to turn our keys in their locks” (Blaise, 1993 cited in Clandinin and Connelly, 2000:54) and so better understand our lives. Unable to attend, the trainee teachers have nominated their supervisor to be their ‘voice’ and answer any questions.

Keywords:

Teaching English as a Foreign Language, implementing change, personal narrative.