Speaking self-efficacy among students of Kedah Matriculation College

Abstract

One of the many predicaments faced by Malaysian workforce at all levels is the declining level of English proficiency which has not met the requirements of the employers. Many studies have been conducted on self-efficacy in secondary and foreign language learning settings; however research on self-efficacy with regard to speaking ability in second language learning, especially in Malaysia, is still lacking. Using a purposive sample of 169 participants, this study looked into the Self-efficacy among Malaysian ESL students from a matriculation college located in Changlun, Kedah, in their ability to speak in English. These students are majoring in Accounting. A questionnaire designed by Hairuzila and Subarna (2007) adapted from Bandura’s (1990) and Mikulecky et al.’s (1996), was employed to access the speaking self-efficacy of the students on three dimensions: ability, activity perception and aspiration. The findings indicated that, in general, the students had identified to have quite high self-efficacy belief in their speaking ability on all the three dimensions. A series of independent sample t-test indicated significant gender difference in the first dimension, ability. Male students (M = 2.89, SD = .50) were reported to have high self-efficacy than the females (M = 3.13, SD = .53), however in activity perception and aspiration were insignificant. Besides that, the relationship between their Malaysian University English Test (MUET) speaking achievement and self-efficacy level was investigated and the result was significantly negatively associated. The results reported that affective factor influenced the students’ speaking performance. Implications of these results were discussed with respect to the need to develop self-efficacy belief among students that could aid them in enhancing their speaking skills.