The role of mentoring in fostering the professional identity of future teachers

Relevance of the research. Identification of the individual with the chosen profession indicates a
significant level of professional growth and readiness to systematically develop, improve
professional skills, deepen knowledge, that is, to recognize oneself as part of an important
professional process. The description of this phenomenon in the scientific literature is understood as
the acquisition of professional identity. A professional identity for future teachers is a guideline that
needs to be perceived while studying in a higher educational institution since it shows the teacher’s
readiness to work with children and reveals the possible quality result of this work. It is quite difficult
to acquire a professional identity through independent self-development; consequently, the support
and assistance of a teacher or a mentor is of particular importance in this case. The purpose of the
research is to reveal the role of mentoring in the formation of future teachers’ professional identity.
The research methods are as follows: theoretical (analysis, synthesis, generalization), empirical
(sociological survey, description), generalization. The academic paper is focused on revealing the
specifics of the formation of future teachers’ professional identity and analyzing the role of a mentor
as a coach, advisor, and professional friend for future teachers. The research analyzes approaches to
the interpretation of the concept of a mentor and mentoring as a process, as well as related concepts
such as a coach, a tutor, and a facilitator. The understanding of the phenomenon of mentoring in
Western European scientific thinking has been characterized. The primary focus of the academic
paper is on the reformation of Ukrainian education, the New Ukrainian School Concept, and the
importance of mentoring at the current stage of educational transformation.The research results
emphasize that the functions of a mentor for future teachers are indispensable and important.
According to the survey, the majority of respondents indicate that they are willing to seek help from
their mentors and can become such mentors for junior students. Conclusions. The academic paper
proves that professional identification is an important personal formation that characterizes a high
level of professionalism of a specialist, in particular, a teacher. The function and role of mentoring is
a way for future teachers to achieve professional identity. The survey conducted among master’s
students confirms the importance of mentoring for future teachers in general and for acquiring
professional identity. A mentor has to concentrate on working with students from the beginning of
their studies and progressively take on a more involved role by the end of their final year in order to
be effective in carrying out these duties.
Keywords: mentor, mentoring, tutor, facilitator, coach, future teacher, pedagogical skills,
professional identity.