The impact of teachers' self-efficacy on their approach to teaching English as a second language and the strategies they perceive as effective to develop students' self-efficacy

Abstract: Abstract It has been claimed that teachers who possess a low level of self-efficacy may impede the learning process for students. When teachers do not possess a high self-efficacy, they may not believe strongly in their own ability to teach, which could in turn lead to unmotivated students in the second language classroom. The purpose of this research is to examine in what way the self-efficacy of Swedish L2 teachers of English influences their way of teaching in the second language classroom both in terms of how it affects their approach to teaching and how it affects the strategies and methods they choose touse in the classroom to strengthen their own students’ self-efficacy. The study uses a qualitative research method. Data was collected through questionnaires, classroom observations and follow-up questionnaires with five English teachers in Southern Sweden. Findings of the study suggest that teachers' with a high level of self-efficacy more positively influence their teaching approach than those who possess a low level of self-efficacy, which can impede their way of teaching. It was also found that the strategies teachers found useful for improving students’ self-efficacy were: language use, scaffolding and group work. This result could be important for further theoretical and pedagogical research for all in an educational position.