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A Research On The Correlation Between Anxiety And Beliefs Of Pre-service Engish Teachers

Posted on:2017-03-19Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:J LiuFull Text:PDF
GTID:2297330488973052Subject:Curriculum and pedagogy
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Pre-service teachers play critical roles in the development of education in China. It is no wonder that teachers are under lots of pressure, especially pre-service teachers. Meanwhile, teacher beliefs is also one part of the reform, which arouse researchers’ attention in recent years. However, there are few researches on both anxiety of pre-service teachers and their beliefs about EFL. Therefore, this paper is to study the general picture of anxiety of pre-service teachers and their beliefs, as well as their correlation.Based on Spielberger state-trait anxiety theory, Endler’s multidimensional anxiety interaction model, teacher cognition and social constructivism, this research conducts a survey on pre-service English teachers’ beliefs and their anxiety. And then correlation analysis is made between the two factors, hoping to offer practical suggestions to pre-service English teachers.In this research, a questionnaire survey and an interview are used to collect data. The subjects are 108 EFL pre-service teachers in three universities. They are students of English curriculum and teaching methodology and English instruction from Grade 2012 and Grade 2013 in Guangxi Normal University, Anhui Normal University and Shanxi Normal University. The Pre-service Teacher Beliefs Scale is made by Zhu Yuanyu and Ye Yuzhu (2001) on the basis of Teacher Beliefs Scale. Meanwhile, the Pre-service Teacher Anxiety Scale is made on the basis of Ngidi & Sibaya (2003)’ Student Teacher Anxiety Scale.The three questions addressed in this research are stated as follows:(1) What is the general level of EFL pre-service teachers’beliefs?(2) What is the general level of EFL pre-service teachers’ anxiety?(3) What is the correlation between EFL pre-service teachers’ beliefs and their anxiety?The findings of these three questions are as follows:(1) The beliefs pre-service teachers hold in three formal universities are low, especially belief of students’learning and belief of teacher role; EFL pre-service teachers’anxiety is at a medium level, especially evaluation anxiety and professional preparation anxiety.(2) Pre-service teachers’beliefs and their anxiety have a medium negative correlation.(3) EFL pre-service teachers have a high expectation for being teacher, but lacking teaching experience and teaching skills make them feel anxious and have little beliefs to teach.The results of this research are as follows:(1) Because pre-service English teachers are in the transition period, and they lack teaching experience and teaching skills in real situations, they usually feel anxious about their ability to present a class and keep a class under control.(2) Increasing pre-service teachers’beliefs can reduce their anxiety.On the basis of research results, the suggestions are put forward to enhance EFL pre-service teachers’ beliefs and reduce their anxiety:(1) Professional teacher development program should be established, which can help pre-service teachers improve their expertise and teaching abilities.(2) Pre-service teachers should master some teaching skills, which can help them activate classroom atmosphere and improve teaching.(3) Pre-service teachers should have a proper expectation for being teachers, and they should properly deal with expectation coming from society and schools.
Keywords/Search Tags:pre-service teachers, teacher anxiety, teacher beliefs, correlation analysis
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