Abstract: The analysis on the interaction between student teachers and their mentors can reveal how student teachers learn in the education practice, which helps to deepen our understanding of the exiting tutor system in China. Using the case study methods, the authors provide a deep description of the interaction between student teachers and their school mentors in their education practice in schools. Based on Blau's exchange theory, the paper offers a microanalysis on the exchange of power and emotion in the interaction to explore the learning activities of student teachers. Our findings show that the student teachers and their mentors begin their interaction with rational principle, then balance their giving and rewarding based on the principle of reciprocity and fairness. When the rewarding is accepted by each other, the trend of integration can be observed. If not, the trend of disparity can be observed. In the interaction, the integration and disparity of the power influence the career identity and professional ideas of the student teachers. In some local colleges, student teachers cannot acquire required mentoring from the school mentors, and lose recognition and confidence in their practice. However, some student teachers can manage to change the situation in the exchange of power and emotion.

Key words: exchange theory, emotion, power, interaction