The purpose of this study was to examine mentor teachers` difficulties during their collaborative mentoring process to improve beginning science teachers` teaching practice. Participants were fourteen science teachers. This study collected questionnaires for mentor teachers` perception of the mentoring program, questionnaires for mentor teachers` efficacy, a record and transcript of interview, a record and transcript of mentoring conversation, and mentor teachers` journals for the study. The result showed that mentor teachers were having difficulties with mentee teachers when they have different major or work in different levels of school, and they found it hard to set aside time for mentoring due to heavy amount of school work. Also, they had low self-confidence experiencing a lack of expertise as a mentor teacher, and some mentor teachers were having difficulties in building a rapport with mentee teachers. Mentor teachers had difficulties as well when they have different point of view with mentee teachers about mentoring.

Collaborative mentoring;Mentor;Mentee;Science teacher teaching practice;

Korean