Teacher efficacy belifs of Turkish EFL teachers : a study with Turkish EFL teachers working at state primary schools

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the level of efficacy perceptions of EFL teachers working at state primary schools in Turkey and investigate whether there are any differences between three dimensions of teacher efficacy as defined by Tschannen and Tschannen-Moran and Woolfolk Hoy (2001), namely, efficacy in student engagement, efficacy in using instructional strategies, and efficacy in classroom management. Another aim of the present study constitutes the difference between socio-demographic factors, namely gender, experience year in the profession and teacher efficacy. Finally, the relationship between perceived English proficiency and teacher efficacy is explored. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used in the present study. The data sources of the present study included a) Teachers? Background Questionnaire developed by the researcher, b) English Teachers? Sense of Efficacy Scale (ESTES) (Chacon, 2005), and c)semi-structured interviews. The participants of the present study were 144 English language teachers working at state primary schools. The semi structured interviews, on the other hand were conducted with 11 of these teachers. Findings revealed that the EFL teachers reported a great deal of overall efficacy for teaching English. As to differences in the three dimensions of teacher efficacy, the means computed for each sub-scales showed that teachers reported to be more assured of their efficacy for classroom management and using instructional strategies than efficacy for engaging students in the learning process. Results obtained from the interviews indicated that there appears to be three possible reasons for the relatively low efficacy for student engagement as reported by EFL teachers. The first possiblity is identified as curricula, standardized tests, and predetermined teaching methods affect teachers in a negative way while trying to engage students in the learning process. The second posibility can be the uncooperative school environment. The final possibility may e students? profile these teachers work with. Furthermore, it was found out that teacher efficacy perceptions did not change according to the year of experience in the profession and gender. Correlation analysis showed that there was a meaningful relationship between the Turkish EFL teachers? teacher efficacy and the perceived language proficiency in English. Finally, the findings of the study have provided insights into teacher efficacy in Turkish primary school context. This study provides implications for professional development programs and also makes suggestions for further research in the field.