Teachers’ Emotional Intelligence and Sense of Self-efficacy Beliefs: A study on Second Cycle Public Primary School EFL Teachers in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine second cycle public primary school English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers‟ level of emotional intelligence (EI) and self-efficacy beliefs and the relationship between the two constructs. Forty-three randomly selected EFL teachers were taken as a sample of the study. To generate data and answer the research questions, the researcher adapted two questionnaires – EFL teachers‟ EI and self-efficacy beliefs - from two separate sources and the instruments were checked for their reliability and validity. Data generated through the administration of the questionnaires were analyzed by using one sample t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results of the study indicated that EFL teachers‟ EI and self-efficacy beliefs were found low as the observed means trailed far behind from the expected means in all the major categories of the two constructs. However, significant and strong relationship was found between EFL teachers‟ EI and sense of self-efficacy beliefs. In conclusion, the participants fell short off the expected levels of EI and self-efficacy beliefs, albeit an iota of the constructs was observed. Following the shift in orientation from teacher-centered to student-centered curriculum which underpins the application of communicative-based English textbooks, the two constructs are suggested to be incorporated both in EFL teacher preparation and professional development programs so as to address both cognitive and affective side of the target language learning and teaching.

Keywords: Emotional Intelligence; Self-Efficacy beliefs; Second Cycle; Public Primary School; EFL teachers