Filling the gap: improving the social and emotional competencies of pre-service teachers

Abstract

Although research carried out over the last few decades into Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has shown the benefits this can have for the well-being and success of both children and teachers, alike, little work has been done with regard to teacher training. The present study explores the impact of a pioneer training program focusing on SEL, implemented in a pre-service teacher curriculum. Through an experiential and collaborative methodology, this compulsory subject aims to develop students' emotional competencies (self-esteem, empathy, affect), as well as their social competencies (assertiveness, communicative competencies). It was conducted a quasi-experimental study with 250 students who completed several well-known scales in pre-test, post-test assessment and control groups. After controlling for personality traits, findings point to significant effects in favor of the experimental group, who increased self-esteem, empathy and confidence when speaking in public, while fear of public speaking, and negative affect was seen to decrease significantly.