Pre-Service and In-Service English Language Teachers' Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Metacognitive Awareness

Abstract

This study aims to examine teacher self-efficacy and metacognitive awareness of preservice and in-service English language teachers and if there is any relationship between their self-efficacy beliefs and metacognition. The study also explores whether there are any similarities or differences between these groups in light of a number of demographic factors and other associated factors suggested in the existing research. Considering these purposes, data of the study which is in a mixed-method design were collected at one of the leading state universities in Turkey with participation of 96 senior students at English Language Teaching (ELT) department and 53 English lecturers working at the School of Foreign Languages of that university through valid and reliable scales on the variables and semi-structured interviews. Data analyses revealed that both groups had high levels of self-efficacy and metacognitive awareness, and there was a strong relationship between self-efficacy and metacognitive awareness. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference between these two groups in the related variables. As for demographic factors, it emerged that gender, years of experience or academic achievement were not effective in leading a difference among the groups. Additionally, qualitative data revealed factors affecting pre-service and inservice English language teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and metacognition either positively or negatively. To this end, while undergraduate education and teaching practice were reported to affect pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy and metacognition, low level of student motivation was considered as the main factor for in-service teachers. Overall, this study proposes significant implications for language teacher education and teaching profession.