Self-efficacy In Spoken English: A Survey On Chinese Learners Of English At Graduate Level

Bandura's concept of self-efficacy has gained much attention since its first appearance in 1977. The concept of self-efficacy is drawn from social cognition theory which means a person's judgment about being able to perform a particular activity. The theory has been studied and proved to be effective to help learners to put more efforts in their studies and obtain greater achievements. It is a student's "I can" or "I cannot" belief that reflects how confident the student is about performing a specific task.High self-efficacy in one area may not coincide with high self-efficacy in another. Studies on self-efficacy have been conducted in the area of mathematics, reading and writing, but few find their ways in foreign language teaching and learning. As for the area of Chinese English learners' self-efficacy in speaking, possibly no researcher has ever touched.Basing on self-efficacy theory and its studies and research, the present paper explores self-efficacy in spoken English on Chinese English learners at postgraduate level. Through a questionnaire, the writer finds out that, generally speaking, Chinese postgraduates have low sense of self-efficacy in speaking. Bandura's theory has demonstrated that self-efficacy directly influences academic attainments. Therefore self-efficacy in speaking directly influences speaking performance. The low self-efficacy in spoken English had by Chinese postgraduates might explain why most Chinese English learners feel short when they speak in English. Factors influencing Chinese English learners' self-efficacy in spoken English include speaking anxiety, past study experience, gender, evaluation from other people. Students' attributions about their success or failure might also explain the level of self-efficacy and students' initial belief about their oral abilities is a variance affecting English speaking as well. After analyzing the responses to a questionnaire from 140 Chinese postgraduates, the writer summarizes the role of self-efficacy that plays in Chinese English learners' spoken English and gives suggestions for the ways to enhance learners' self-efficacy in spoken English.