the road to the teaching profession and the motives of choice, in light of autobiographical statements of students of pedagogical studies

This paper presents the results of qualitative research on the path to teaching as a career and the accompanying motivation. In the research, biographical, socio-cultural and economic conditions are critically considered.

The study was conducted during the 2013-14 academic year in the University of Jan Kochanowski’s the Department of Education and the Arts. It involved 65 prospective teachers—postgraduate students in teacher education, with a specialization in preschool and early education with English language teaching. The research used the authobiographical method on the theme “My Way to the Teaching Profession: Autobiographical and Socio-cultural Context.” The study allowed the researchers to gain knowledge about the formation of the path to the teaching as a career and the prospective teachers’ motivations. The paper presents the broader context of prospective teachers’ formation and development. The results of the research enrich knowledge of teaching as a career and the professional development of teachers under modern conditions.