Exploring Tertiary Level EFL Learners’ Self-efficacy Beliefs: A Mixed-Methods Study


Creative Commons License

Akkaya Önal M.

THE JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE TEACHING AND LEARNING, cilt.16, sa.3, ss.132-148, 2026 (ESCI)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Dergi Adı: THE JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE TEACHING AND LEARNING
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: EBSCO Communication Source, Communication Source (EBSCO), Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), MLA - Modern Language Association Database, MLA International Bibliography
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.132-148
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Anadolu Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aimed to investigate the self-efficacy levels of Turkish EFL learners across four language skills, listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and to explore the factors influencing their beliefs. Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed method design, the research was conducted at a School of Foreign Languages (SFL) of a state university in Türkiye with 130 elementary-level students. Quantitative data were collected using the English Self-Efficacy Belief Scale (Yanar & Bümen, 2012), while qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with purposefully selected participants using extreme case sampling. Findings revealed a moderate overall self-efficacy level (M=3.19), with learners reporting higher efficacy in receptive skills (listening and reading, M=3.32) compared to productive skills (speaking and writing, M=3.05 and M=3.09, respectively). Factors influencing high self-efficacy included out-of-class practice, personal characteristics, motivation, and school-related support, while low self-efficacy was mainly shaped by affective barriers, perceived incompetence, and demotivational experiences.