Exploring pre-service language teachers’ mindsets using a sorting activity

Researching mindsets has become a topic of considerable interest in language learning. However, the majority studies tend to focus on learners and their mindsets, with very little research examining teachers, either in-service or pre-service. Yet, teachers' mindset beliefs about competences as educators are likely be fundamental willingness engage professional development how they cope challenges. In this study, we addressed two questions: 1. What pre-service diverse teaching competences? 2. what ways do teachers explain teaching? Data were collected from 12 Austria Norway using semi-structured interviews, short background questionnaire, sorting task prior second interview. During task, arranged statements along continuum asked following interview sorting. The findings revealed set interrelated best thought system including beyond malleability. There was no evidence categorical but more orientations towards particular perspective. study raises important questions for methodologies binary dichotomies single-point data collection tools.