This case study examines the identity development of two preservice world language teachers during student teaching, and the role that mentor teachers play in their identity formation. Using situated learning theory and symbolic interactionism as complementary theoretical lenses, this study adds to the limited work on world language teacher identity development and the ways in which mentor teachers impact this development. Data sources include interviews with preservice and mentor teachers, classroom observations, and observations of coaching sessions between preservice world language teachers and their mentors.

Findings from this study indicate that the preservice teachers were afforded opportunities to develop and take on a world language teacher perspective during student teaching and their assuming of this perspective supported their negotiation and formation of their identities as teaching professionals. Moreover, consistent with the literature on the identity development of preservice teachers, this study also illustrates that the negotiation of their identity-shaping experiences enabled them to gain confidence and become respected authority figures in the classroom. Lastly, expanding our understanding of previous scholarship on language teacher identity, the current study revealed that mentor teachers provided the preservice teachers with opportunities to form their identities in four key ways: by giving the preservice teachers autonomy, offering them support, transferring authority to them, and sharing ownership of the class. This study builds upon previous findings and provides a unique perspective and contribution to the literature expanding our understanding of mentoring and identity construction directly to the world language field, while identifying the critical impact that mentor teachers have on the identity development of preservice teachers.

This study provides implications for preservice world language teacher education and offers guidelines for improving the selection and training of mentor teachers, as well as for enhancing preservice teachers’ professional identity and increasing teacher retention. Teacher educators have the opportunity to support the continued language skill development of preservice teachers and build the confidence they need to be language teachers. Ultimately, this dynamic relationship will encourage preservice teachers to acquire their own unique identity positions in ways that have the potential to improve the state of language teaching.