The Pre-Service Teachers’ Uphill Climb in the New Normal: Stories to Tell

In the new normal of education, the pre – service teachers’ struggles and stories are overlooked by the majority of institutions in the country. Their performance in multiple schools is evaluated quantitatively in several studies of literature but no research yet concentrated to the pre-service teachers’ narratives and stories in the new normal in both limited face-to-face classes and offline teacher’s instruction. This inspired the researchers to conduct this study in order to provide attention to the pre-service teachers’ uphill climb and encounters in the new normal mode of teaching practicum. This study is anchored from the Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory. Heideggerian Phenomenology design and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of Van Manen popularized by Moustakas with a 7-step analysis were used in this study. This study utilized Purposive Sampling Technique to refrain researchers’ subjectivity. Interviews with semi-structured interview guide through the use of online platforms were conducted to ten (10) participants from Cebu Technological University – Moalboal Campus. There were four themes that emerged: (1) The Encounters, (2) The Uphill Climb, (3) The Stepping Stone and The Stumbling Block, and (4) The Coping Strategies. These themes showcased the stories and survival of the participants in the new normal. It is recommended to create a management plan and interventions, professional support and guidance to give the upcoming pre-service teachers better opportunities to excel in their life-long teaching career experience.