Iranian EFL Learners at Loggerheads with Perceived Social Support

Subject Areas : Research in English Language Pedagogy

Ali  Rahimi ¹ (Associate Professor, Bangkok University, Thailand)
Rouhollah  Askari Bigdeli ² (Yasouj University)

Accepted : 2017-10-17 Published : 2014-09-01

Keywords: resilience, perceived social support, EFL learners, Copying Skills,

Abstract :

Resilience as a psychological emotional mechanism is employed by the individuals when they are in stressful irritating situations to be able to resume their previous productive mental activities. It is a vital coping activity when students go through upsetting events, psychological breakdowns, academic failures, suffocating educational atmospheres, and undemocratic teaching techniques. The essential elements of such a construct can be diverse based upon a whole prism of cultural specificities. The crux of the matter is that resilience is immensely influenced by social parameters and significant others who are in interaction with the students. The objective of this study is to investigate the predictive relationship between perceived social support (social support of family, significant others, and friends) and resilience in English language learners. To this end, 200 EFL learners studying at university level participated in the study. The data were gathered through two questionnaires and multiple regression analysis was run as a statistical procedure to analyze the data. The results of the study indicated that social support of family, significant others, and friends significantly predicted resilience. The implications of this study pointed to the importance of significant others, and social support from teachers, family and friends in providing EFL learners with effective copying skills manifested as resilience in confrontation with unwelcoming stressful tasks and challenges in the process of language learning.

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