Enhancing EFL Learners’ Self Efficacy Beliefs through Raising Metacognitive Awareness

Subject Areas : Journal of Teaching English Language Studies

Saeed Safdari ¹ , Shahryar Farzi ²

1 - Islamic Azad University, Chalous branch, Chalous
2 - Department of English, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran

Received: 2018-04-15 Accepted : 2018-06-11 Published : 2018-06-01

Keywords: Metacognition, Self-efficacy, Metacognitive strategies,

Abstract :

This study aimed at investigating the possibility of improving EFL learners’ self-efficacy by implementing a metacognitive strategies instruction program. The participants were 53 female EFL learners who were divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received an eight-week treatment on metacognitive strategies through descriptions, modeling, and practice. At the beginning and at the end of the program a self-report questionnaire has been used to measure the Participants’ self-efficacy belief and metacognitive strategies awareness. The results revealed that the experimental group participants outdid the control group learners. Their self-efficacy belief improved considerably and they became more confident in their ability to cope with L2 learning tasks and activities. The findings bear significant meaning regarding the importance of both metacognitive strategies and self-efficacy. It was suggested that building deeper awareness of the metacognitive strategies can be a powerful tool to develop self-efficacious learners who are more confident and reassured about their own capabilities in dealing with the complicated tasks and activities of learning a foreign language.

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