The Effects of Communication Skills and Career Preparation Behavior on Pre-service Teachers’ Competency: the Mediating Effects of Teacher Efficacy and Teacher Practicum Satisfaction

This study aims to investigate the effects of pre-service teachers communication skill, teacher efficacy, career preparation behavior, and teacher practicum satisfaction on the pre-service teachers’ competency in order to design strategies for improving their competency. For this purpose, we surveyed 81 pre-service teachers who had experience in teacher practicum at A university in Seoul. The results of the study are as follows: First, pre-service teachers’ competency showed significant improvement from pre-teaching practicum to post-teaching practicum. Second, teacher efficacy and teacher practicum satisfaction have positive impact on pre-service teachers competency. Third, teacher efficacy partially mediates the relationship between communication ability and pre-service teachers’ competency. Finally, it was confirmed that teacher practicum program satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between career preparation behavior and pre-service teachers’ competency. Based on the results, the study suggests that a systematic support is needed to improve communication skills, teacher efficacy, and career preparation behaviors in the secondary teacher education program in order to enhance the pre-service teachers competency, which is the goal of the program. Also, it is recommended that efforts should be made to increase the teacher practicum program satisfaction.