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Exploring school-based language teacher educators’ sources of stress when mentoring student teachers: Voices from Sweden

Juul, Sophia LU and Kling, Joyce LU orcid (2026)
Abstract
Across Europe, the involvement of and collaboration with experienced school-based language teacher educators is pivotal to the success of the structural format of the practicum component in language teacher education. Despite their central importance to the system, the lived experiences of these practitioners remain underexplored. This exploratory study sheds light on the emotional challenges experienced by five upper-secondary English teachers in Sweden in mentoring pre-service English teachers. Through qualitative interviews, the participants identified aspects of the mentoring process that were particular sources of stress, and the emotional experiences stemming from their dual role as both teachers of K-12 students and teachers of K-12... (More)
Across Europe, the involvement of and collaboration with experienced school-based language teacher educators is pivotal to the success of the structural format of the practicum component in language teacher education. Despite their central importance to the system, the lived experiences of these practitioners remain underexplored. This exploratory study sheds light on the emotional challenges experienced by five upper-secondary English teachers in Sweden in mentoring pre-service English teachers. Through qualitative interviews, the participants identified aspects of the mentoring process that were particular sources of stress, and the emotional experiences stemming from their dual role as both teachers of K-12 students and teachers of K-12 teachers. These stressors stemmed both from their dual roles as simultaneous classroom practitioners and mentors, and from encounters with pre-service teacher students who show limited progression despite individualized support. The findings highlight the need for more nuanced understandings of mentor’s professional realities and call for greater institutional recognition of their unique position as both in-service teacher and mentor. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
school-based language teacher educators, mentoring, stressors
host publication
Language teacher educator psychology
editor
Smid, David ; Mercer, Sarah and Hasper, Anna
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bf57073b-e179-4a3e-92ad-6292f79baa29
date added to LUP
2026-01-26 21:39:42
date last changed
2026-01-29 16:48:58
@inbook{bf57073b-e179-4a3e-92ad-6292f79baa29,
  abstract     = {{Across Europe, the involvement of and collaboration with experienced school-based language teacher educators is pivotal to the success of the structural format of the practicum component in language teacher education. Despite their central importance to the system, the lived experiences of these practitioners remain underexplored. This exploratory study sheds light on the emotional challenges experienced by five upper-secondary English teachers in Sweden in mentoring pre-service English teachers. Through qualitative interviews, the participants identified aspects of the mentoring process that were particular sources of stress, and the emotional experiences stemming from their dual role as both teachers of K-12 students and teachers of K-12 teachers. These stressors stemmed both from their dual roles as simultaneous classroom practitioners and mentors, and from encounters with pre-service teacher students who show limited progression despite individualized support. The findings highlight the need for more nuanced understandings of mentor’s professional realities and call for greater institutional recognition of their unique position as both in-service teacher and mentor.}},
  author       = {{Juul, Sophia and Kling, Joyce}},
  booktitle    = {{Language teacher educator psychology}},
  editor       = {{Smid, David and Mercer, Sarah and Hasper, Anna}},
  keywords     = {{school-based language teacher educators; mentoring; stressors}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Exploring school-based language teacher educators’ sources of stress when mentoring student teachers: Voices from Sweden}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}