A Narrative Research on Teacher Identity Construction of Liberal Studies Student-teachers in Hong Kong

This study explored the teacher identity shaping processes of six student teachers while they were taking Liberal Studies Teacher Education Program during their third year of study. Its purpose is to understand the relationship between the six student teachers' learning experience of the teacher education program, the nature of the liberal studies subject matter, and the shaping process of their teacher identity. The main findings of the study include the following three points.;First, it is found out student teachers have built multiple teacher identities from the narration of their study experience. The narrative research data indicated that student teachers had two different teacher identities: general teacher identity and subject teacher identity. These two identities could be easily differentiated in the initial phase of the process of teacher identity construction, but as the process went on, the two identities interplayed with each other and became closely connected.;Second, the six student teachers have followed a similar track in the process of their identity shaping. The shaping of their teacher identity was vague and unstable in the beginning and gradually became distinct and stable. Facing stimulation from different influential forces, these student teachers' teacher identity was usually kept in a dynamic status and was continuously constructed. In general, subject teacher identity was shaped much slower than general teacher identity.;Finally, the shaping process of their teacher identity has been stimulated by different external and internal forces. The influential forces can be categorized into three types: contextual, visible and invisible. Although all six student teachers faced similar influential forces, each individual teacher identity reacted quite differently to the similar forces. Some teacher identities showed the capacity to absorb the influential forces while some teacher identities changed their shaping rate after being stimulated by the influential forces.;Upon on these findings, the study pointed out that teacher identity has shaped by pervious experience in learning and context. Identity Shaping is a dialogue between internal self and external world. Narrative is a suitable method to assist student teacher reflects their pervious life experiences, also promote teacher personal and professional growth.