Narrative Research on U-shaped Teacher Training: Based on Success Stories of the Education Graduates of Normal Schools in Western China

Abstract

Based on Theory U, this study used narrative inquiry to analyze the success stories of 12 education graduates from three normal schools in western China, and analyzed their subjective meanings and interpretations in teacher training. It revealed that training and educational background are the foundation of successful teachers. It was found that successful teachers face challenges brought by continuous learning pressure, heavy teaching workload, fierce professional competition, and changing teaching environment. In order to overcome these challenges, the strategies and experiences they adopted are: firm educational beliefs; high self-control, self-discipline, self-confidence and self-improvement personality traits; make full use of existing resources, listen to suggestions and seek help and support, maintain positive psychological cues, build harmonious like-minded interpersonal relationships, gain self-efficacy and collective efficacy, and be flexible and self-adjusting.