Research models on Teacher Education in France 123

Abstract

This paper identifies the most significant international trends in the field of Teacher Education, which is continuously being expanded. After pointing out its most debated themes, it focusses on the research carried on teacher training and education in France. Relevant trends are highlighted, together with studies that analyse practices and the development of skills. My main aim is that of: a) contributing to the self-reflection required by the Italian context, whose experience in teacher education is in its early days (as a matter of fact, institutional reforms in teacher training date back no more than ten years ago, thus producing research on the topic only in recent times); b) obtaining theoretical insights on what was developed in an influential nearby context, such as the French one, which faced our very problems some years in advance.