The role of general culture courses in training qualified teachers: The case of the Western music course

Authors : Vildan Ozdemir Selcuk
Pages : 1002-1014
Doi:10.31811/ojomus.1693954
View : 91 | Download : 146
Publication Date : 2025-10-29
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :This study aims to examine the opinions of pre-service teachers from various disciplines regarding the elective Western Music course, to identify its potential contributions to their professional and personal development, if any, and to interpret these contributions within the framework of general cultural knowledge, which is one of the characteristics of a qualified teacher. A case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed in the study. The participant group was selected through criterion sampling and consisted of pre-service teachers enrolled at Harran University in the departments of Elementary Teacher Education, Primary Mathematics Teacher Education, English Language Teaching, Art and Crafts Teacher Education, Preschool Teacher Education, and Science Teacher Education, who chose the Western Music course as one of their General Culture Elective Courses. A semi-structured interview form was used as the data collection instrument, and the obtained data were analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. In terms of personal development, the majority of pre-service teachers perceived the Western Music course as an opportunity to enhance their aesthetic understanding, familiarize themselves with international music genres and artists, and increase their cultural awareness. Regarding professional development, most pre-service teachers found the course beneficial within the context of general cultural knowledge. It was stated that the course provided valuable contributions in various aspects, such as relating music knowledge to their field of study, enriching lesson processes, conveying different cultural perspectives to students, and incorporating music into classroom activities. The research findings indicate that the Western Music course can contribute to the general cultural framework of pre-service teachers’ individual and professional development.
Keywords : seçmeli dersler, genel kültür, nitelikli öğretmen, öğretmen eğitimi, Batı müziği

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