A Study On Elementary School English Teachers’ Sense Of Efficacy In Rural Areas Of Gannan District

Overseas studies on teacher efficacy have been conducted for35years, while Chineseresearchers have started their attention on teacher efficacy since1990s. National Medium andLong Term Education Reform and Development Program (2010-2020) points out that a teamof high quality professional teachers shall be constructed and developed. On February10th,2012, Ministry of Education officially issued the Professional Standards for Teachers inKindergarten, Elementary and Secondary School, which is the basis for the construction ofthe team of professional teachers. Therefore, the study on teachers is getting its importance.Teacher efficacy is the key to teachers’ professionalism and is conducive to teachers’ teachingand students’ learning as well.On the theoretical basis of Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the present study conducts avalid questionnaire survey on100elementary school English teachers in rural areas ofGannan district. It analyzes the teachers’ English language proficiency (Listening, Speaking,Reading and Writing.) and their self-perceived efficacy in oral English use, classroommanagement, instructional strategies and students’ engagement. This study aims to offerconstructive suggestions for English teachers in rural areas on improving their languageproficiency and strengthening their sense of efficacy.The thesis is composed of five chapters. The first chapter introduces the background,purpose and significance of the study. The second chapter illustrates the definitions of someterms, Bandura’s social cognitive theory, overseas and domestic studies on English teachers’sense of efficacy. The third chapter introduces the research methodology. The fourth chapterintroduces the results and discussion of the research. The fifth chapter draws the conclusionand provides some suggestions for English teachers in rural areas on improving their sense ofefficacy. Moreover, the deficiencies are pointed out in the present study.