The Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Language Proficiency: A Case of Iranian Medical Students

Abstract

Research findings from several academic domains have demonstrated that students’ judgments of their own academic capabilities or self-efficacy beliefs influence their academic behaviors and performances. But there has been very few studies exploring the self-efficacy of Medical students and its effect on their language success. So, the present research aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between medical students' self-efficacy and their language proficiency. Moreover, this study tried to examine the variation of students' self-efficacy based on their different majors in medical sciences. To this end, 120 students studying in different majors in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences were selected as the participants of this study. In order to measure students' language proficiency, Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP) was administered. Another instrument was the self-efficacy questionnaire which was an adaptation of Bandura's questionnaire included 40 items with subsequent choices on a 5-point Likert-scale. The results of the study indicated that there was a positive relationship between students' self-efficacy and language proficiency. Besides, it was revealed that students' major had an effect on both language proficiency and self-efficacy. Finally, pedagogical implications and suggestions for further research were provided.