Abstract
Background: Beginning Teachers are confronted with numerous challenges especially in their first year of teaching. Without ample induction support, the beginning teachers could merely develop their capacity on their own. Therefore, some nations implement the policy of internship so as to increase effectiveness of the beginning teachers. In Hong Kong the Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications (ACTEQ) introduced the proposal of internship and registration for beginning teachers in 2003; however, the proposal is still not carried out.
Focus of discussion: This paper attempts to examine the proposal in an international perspective. In order to understand the direction and design of the proposal in Hong Kong, it is going to identify the proposal through text analysis. In addition, the controversies of the issue will be presented and defended.
Arguments: The paper mainly explores the controversies of the internship from four sections, they include, nature of mentoring relationship, workload of mentoring, evaluation of mentoring and prospect of teaching profession. In order to deal with the challenges of induction year, whole-school approach to mentoring is suggested. It is argued that the internship of beginning teachers should be introduced as a way of improving teacher development of Hong Kong at both individual and school levels.
Conclusion: By exploring related research, implementation of internship through mentoring for beginning teachers is beneficial to develop teacher effectiveness and school effectiveness. Nevertheless, the proposal should be improved before it is carried out in near future.
| Keywords: | internship; beginning teacher; mentoring |
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