An Exploratory Study of Beliefs about Foreign Language Learning Among Self-Learners of English in Saudi Arabia

This mixed-method exploratory study was conducted to investigate the types of beliefs that Saudi self-learners of English as a foreign language bring to the learning process. It also examined the possible links between those beliefs and self-rated English proficiency and explored whether individual factors, such as age and gender, played a role in shaping the learners’ beliefs. Data were collected from 243 participants, using three instruments, two quantitative and one qualitative. The first was the Background Information Questionnaire, which was designed specifically for this study and consisted of two parts. The first part collected demographic data about the learners, and the second part elicited the participants’ self-rated English proficiency in the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The second questionnaire was a modified version of Horwitz’s (1985) Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) and consisted of 27 items. The qualitative data were collected using one-on-one retrospective interviews, mainly to support and interpret the questionnaire results. The findings revealed that the beliefs of the participants were mostly realistic. Further, a significant positive correlation at the .01 level was found between the learners’ belief that they had foreign language aptitude and their self-rated English proficiency. The results of independent samples t-tests revealed two significant differences in learner beliefs according to gender and four significant ones according to age. The study concluded by offering recommendations and suggestions for further research in the field. Received: 3 December 2020 / Accepted: 27 January 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

A Brief Review on Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory

Second language learners have various learning attitudes in different settings. Beliefs are essential elements in any field that deals with human performance and learning. Beliefs assist individuals in defining and understanding the world and themselves; they help define tasks and play an essential role in determining action (White, 1999). Recently, researchers have recognized the significance of language beliefs in the second language learning process; they have also been demonstrated interest in students' perspectives on language learning and their effects on learners' motivation, foreign language anxiety, and efficacy. This review summarized students' beliefs on learning a second language by combining key elements from previous research on this topic. This paper has analyzed five previous published articles (Mori,1999; Ellis, 2008; Tanaka & Ellis, 2008; Horwitz1987) and discussed findings on learner beliefs, potential changes in learner beliefs, and factors influencing learner beliefs changes.

Targets and Sources of Oral Corrective Feedback in English as a Foreign Language Classrooms: Are Students' and Teachers' Beliefs Aligned?

Recent decades have witnessed extensive research focusing on oral corrective feedback (CF), a key aspect of English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) learning and teaching, but relatively little research has examined the relationship between learner and teacher beliefs about CF. The study reported in this article investigated the relationship between teacher and learner beliefs regarding the optimal targets and sources of CF in Vietnamese secondary EFL contexts. Data which were collected at four Vietnamese public high schools included questionnaires completed by 250 students, interviews with 15 of them, and interviews with 24 teachers. The findings showed that the students were happy to receive CF to all types of errors, including less important errors such as those not influencing their communicative success. The teachers were generally more selective in their choices of error types, but they sometimes faced some tensions between their overall teaching objective and the students' practical needs to learn the material that would be tested in subsequent exams. Regarding CF sources, the students preferred teacher correction to self-correction or peer correction although they believed that self-correction was effective for their learning and wished their teachers would provide them with training on how to conduct peer correction and self-correction. The teachers also thought that it was part of their role to be the main CF providers to ensure the accuracy of classroom feedback. Some teachers were skeptical about their students' ability to provide peer CF. Pedagogical implications are discussed.

EFL Students’ Beliefs about How They Learn Grammar Best

Learner beliefs about how they learn a language best play a vital role in the instructional process and the role of grammar instruction has been a much-debated topic in the research and practice of EFL instruction. This study explores learner beliefs about how they best learn grammar focusing on four construct pairs: meaning-focused versus form-focused instruction, focus on form versus focus on forms, explicit versus implicit instruction, and inductive versus deductive grammar instruction. Data were collected through a survey from 927 preparatory year and undergraduate students at an English-medium university in an English as a foreign language (EFL) setting. Results showed that regardless of year of study, students showed a preference for having grammar included as part of their lessons and course books, and although focus on form was reported to be the least preferred method of instruction, when given a choice between implicit versus explicit grammar instruction, all groups preferred explicit instruction.

Context matters: Learner beliefs and interactional behaviors in an EFL vs. ESL context

Researchers and teachers often invoke context to explain their particular research/teaching issues. However, definitions of context vary widely and the direct impact of the context is often unexplained. Based on research showing contextual differences in second language (L2) learner beliefs and interactional behaviors, the current project compared those factors in two distinct contexts: Chilean English as a foreign language (EFL) ( n = 19) and Australian English as a second language (ESL) ( n = 27) contexts. In this project, the learners completed a set of group discussion activities as part of their regular class work. They then completed a questionnaire pertaining to L2 motivation, perceptions of group work, and first language (L1) use. The group interaction data were analysed for: (1) the frequency of language-related episodes (LREs); (2) the initiator of LREs (self or other); and (3) L1 use for resolving LREs. The results showed that the EFL learners produced significantly more LREs. The EFL learners also used more L1 to resolve LREs. Factor analyses of the questionnaire data, conducted within- and across-contexts, showed notable differences in the two contexts as well. However, the findings of learner beliefs did not necessarily account for the differential classroom behaviors. We discuss our findings by reference to the socio-linguistic and socio-educational statuses of English in the two contexts as well as approaches to instruction which together shaped the learners’ differential needs and purposes for learning the L2.

Learner Mathematics Learning Beliefs System: A Case Study

This study makes an effort to investigate learner mathematics-related beliefs at the secondary level. The study was qualitative and the method adopted for the in-depth information about the belief was a single case study. The site were selected for this investigation were Government Girls Higher Secondary School Rustam in District Mardan. The number of participants was six from class 10th science students. In-depth interviews were scheduled for the collection of data. Interview items were 9 in number. Thematic analysis of the transcripts exposed learner beliefs about mathematics. The main findings of the study showed that those students who understand the concept of mathematics possessed the positive beliefs about mathematics, and they also like the book and course materials and satisfied with it. They feel easy during mathematics classrooms, enjoy, and excited to learn something new in this subject. In contrast, the learners who do not understanding level is low they hold negative beliefs they did not like the book and course materials and not satisfied and feel hesitation during mathematics classroom. The study further showed that in the construction of beliefs that are positive or negative about the mathematics classroom environment play a great role especially mathematics teacher, her methods, and her beliefs. If the teacher involves the students in activities, keep good and interesting method and motivate the students time to time, then the learners will possess positive beliefs and will take interest in such a very important mathematics class.

The Relationship between English Language Learner Characteristics and Online Self-regulation: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Learner beliefs, anxiety, and motivation are three common learner characteristics. They have consistently been found to account for language learning performance. Meanwhile, self-regulation is critical in sustaining online learners’ continuous efforts and predicting their learning outcomes. Despite the massive and rapidly increasing number of online English learners, few studies have clarified the assumed relationships between learner characteristics (learner beliefs, anxiety, motivation) and self-regulation in the online English learning context. This study aims to fill the gap by conducting structural equation modeling analysis to examine their relations. To fulfill the research purpose, we adopted the previous questionnaires with sufficient reliability as instruments to evaluate students’ online English learner beliefs, learning anxiety, learning motivation and online self-regulated English learning. The valid responses collected from 425 Chinese undergraduate university students enrolled in an online academic English writing course provided the data source. The results indicated that learner beliefs positively predicted, while learning anxiety negatively predicted, online self-regulated English learning. Online English learning motivation was a mediator in these associations. The findings suggested that stronger learner beliefs of self-efficacy and perceived value of English learning promoted learning motivation and self-regulation. In contrast, higher learning anxiety, such as test anxiety and fear of negative evaluation, harmed learners’ motivation and their online self-regulated English learning.

Changing Learner Beliefs in South African Townships: An Evaluation of a Growth Mindset Intervention

We tested the effectiveness of a growth mindset intervention for N = 354 adolescents from low resource schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. Growth mindset measures demonstrated good psychometric properties in our sample. We found mixed evidence of an intervention effect: We did not find evidence that the intervention improved mastery behavior or math achievement test scores, but treatment-on-the-treated (TOT) analyses showed positive effects on growth mindset for those who received the intervention (0.32 SDs). TOT analyses provided some evidence for effects on math grades, comparable in magnitude with previous research (0.24–0.34 SDs), although tests were underpowered and not all reached significance. The intervention cost approximately R4.4 (31 U.S. cents) per student. A growth mindset intervention may be a low-cost way to shape motivation and grades for those attending low resource schools, but more research is needed to address the mixed results obtained in the current study.

Exploring the Effectiveness of the Clickers-Aided Flipped English Classroom

The clicker-aided flipped English pedagogical approach has received popularity recently. Unfortunately, learner beliefs and motivational needs have hardly been explored in this approach. This study aims to compare the effectiveness between clicker-aided/non-clicker-aided flipped English classrooms and the traditional English pedagogical approach. The study divided the randomly selected participants into three cohorts, where different English pedagogical approaches were explored. The quantitative data was obtained from the measurements via scales of English proficiency, learner beliefs, and motivational needs. The comparative analysis and an interview concluded that the clicker-aided flipped English classroom was significantly more effective than the non-clicker-aided and the latter was more effective than the traditional English classroom in terms of English proficiency, learner beliefs and motivational needs. Interdisciplinary research may be necessary involving education, computer, statistics, linguistics and information technologies in the future.

Chapter 5: Japan has four seasons: Nihonjinron and native-speakerisms at the eikaiwa gakkou

Focusing on his experiences and research on the apparent interaction between native-speakerism and nationalism, Martin Cater addresses how learner beliefs in eikaiwa can be shaped by larger influences from the ELT industry and Japanese society. He discusses how native-speakerism and the Japanese nationalist ideology of nihonjinron can be seen in the stated beliefs of Japanese English learners and how these ideas are sometimes promoted by eikaiwa schools. However, he also gives examples from his personal experience of how these problematic ideologies can be disrupted through grassroots action by teachers.