Self-Efficacy and Perceived Classroom Climate: Implications for Language Learning

• In Event: Roundtable Session 115
  In Roundtable Session: Literacy and Motivation

Abstract

The conundrum many foreign language educators face is knowing how to create a climate in which students are not hesitant to speak the target language. Willingness to communicate (WTC)—one’s intention to initiate communication when free to do so—is one construct that has received attention in the field of second language motivation. One antecedent of WTC is self-efficacy—an individual’s belief in her/his capabilities to execute the necessary steps to achieve a given outcome. The aim of this study is to examine the contribution of self-efficacy on various outcomes. Results revealed self-efficacy to be a significant predictor of both WTC and course grade for 469 foreign-language university students. Significance and implications are discussed.

Author

• Michael Yough, Purdue University