This study examines how students perceive a new Finnish model of teacher development that uses the peer group mentoring (PGM) method for combining pre-service and in-service teacher education. The findings reveal that the students' experiences of participating in peer mentoring group were positive. The findings also highlighted the importance of prospective teachers having authentic connections to working life and colleagues already during initial education. The findings also show that experiences varied in terms of depth and effectiveness and the kind of learning that they promoted. The students considered the activity as (1) a coffee break, (2) peer-support, (3) identity construction and (4) a professional community.