EFL language learners’ beliefs about language learning: a study on Thai EFL undergraduate students
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate Thai EFL undergraduate students’ beliefs about English language learning. Participants were twenty Thai EFL second-year undergraduate students who major in English at a public university in Thailand. Research tool of this study was Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) questionnaire. The findings showed that there were both supportive and not supportive beliefs of Thai EFL undergraduate students regarding English language learning. Although the students view English is medium difficult for them to learn, they believe that everyone can learn English. Most of Thai EFL undergraduate students believe that it is important to learn English and they enjoy to learn English. This study provides the pedagogical implications for teachers to consider their students’ beliefs about English language learning in the process of course design and development and of English language instruction.
Article Details
References
Abdolahzadeh, E., & Rajaee Nia, M. (2014). Language Learning Beliefs of Iranian Learners: Examining the Role of English Language Proficiency. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 22-28. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro. 2014.03.384
Ariogul, S., Unal, D., & Onursal, I. (2009). Foreign language learners’ beliefs about language learning: a study on Turkish university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 1500-1506. doi:10.1016/j.sb spro.2009.01.265
Azar, F., & Saeidi, M. (2013). The Relationship between Iranian EFL Learners’ Beliefs about Language Learning and Their Use of Learning Strategies. English Language Teaching, 6(11), 167-174. doi:10.5539/elt.v6n11p167
Barcelos, A. (2003). Researching beliefs about SLA: A critical review. In P. Kalaja, & A. Barcelos (Eds.), Beliefs about SLA: New research approaches (pp. 7–33). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic.
Barcelos, A., & Kalaja, P. (2011). Beliefs about SLA revisited, a special issue. System, 39(3), 281-416.
Bernat, E. (2004). Investigating Vietnamese ESL learners’ beliefs about language learning. English Australia Journal, 21(2), 40-55.
Bernat, E., & Lloyd, R. (2007). Exploring the gender effect of EFL learners’ beliefs about language learning. Australian Journal of Educational & Developmental Psychology, 7, 79-91.
Dörnyei, Z. (2005). The Psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in Second language acquisition. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Ellis, R. (2004). Individual differences in language learning. In C. Elder, & A. Davies (Eds.), Handbook of Applied Linguistics. Oxford, England: Blackwell.
________. (2008). The Study of second language acquisition. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Eshghinejad, S. (2016). EFL students’ attitudes toward learning English language: The case study of Kashan University Students. Cogent Education, 3(1), 1-13.
Ferguson, A. (2005). Students’ beliefs about their foreign language instructors: A look at the native-speaker/non-native speaker issue [Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation]. University of Arizona, USA.
Fujiwara, T. (2015). Development of Thai University Students’ Beliefs about Language Learning: A Longitudinal Study. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 171, 1081-1087. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.269
Horwitz, E. K. (1985). Using student beliefs about language learning and teaching in the foreign language methods course. Foreign Language Annals, 18(4), 333-340.
________. (1987). Surveying student beliefs about language learning. In A. Wenden, & R. Rubin (Eds.), Learner strategies in language learning (pp. 119-129). London, England: Prentice Hall International.
________. (1988). The beliefs about language learning of beginning university foreign language students. The Modern Language Journal, 72, 283-294.
Kuntz, P. S. (1996). Beliefs about language learning: The Horwitz model. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/ fulltext/ED397649.pdf
Nikitina, L., & Furuoka, F. (2006). Re-examining Horwitz’s beliefs about language learning inventory (BALLI) in the Malaysian Context. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 3(2), 209-219.
Peacock, M. (2001). Pre-service ESL teachers’ beliefs about second language learning: a longitudinal study. System, 29, 177-195.
Phonlabutra, K. (2008). A Survey of Students’ Beliefs in Learning Japanese. Journal of Humanities Naresuan University, 7(2), 25-40.
Photitheeratot, M. (2014). A Study of the Problems of Learning Teaching English in Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. Journal of Yanasangvorn Research Institutes, 5(1), 47-56.
Renandya, W. (2013). Essential Factors Affecting EFL Learning Outcomes. English teaching, 68, 23-41. doi:10.158 58/engtea.68.4.201312.23
Shen, M., & Chiu, T. (2019). EFL Learners’ English Speaking Difficulties and Strategy Use. Education and Linguistics Research, 5(2), 88-102. doi:10.5296/elr.v5i2.15333
Tercanlioglu, L. (2004). Pre-service EFL teachers' beliefs about foreign language learning and how they relate to gender. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 5(3), 145-162.
White, C. (2008). Beliefs and good language learners. In C. Griffiths (Ed.), Lessons from good language learners (pp. 121-130). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
Yang, N. D. (1999). The relationship between EFL learners’ beliefs and learning strategy use. System, 27, 515-535.
Zhong, Q. (2014). Understanding Changes in Chinese Immigrant Language Learners’ Beliefs in New Zealand. The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, 17(4), 1-20.