Document Type : Original Research Paper-English Issue
Authors
Department of English, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The rapid advancement of technology has not just significantly transformed, but revolutionized language education by integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL). These tools, far from just enhancing, have completely redefined language learning by making it more interactive and accessible. However, their successful implementation depends on teachers' proficiency and confidence in using them. In Iran, where English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction is crucial for students' academic success, understanding the factors influencing teachers' engagement with ICT and MALL is essential. Self-efficacy, or the belief in one's ability to succeed, and self-regulation, which involves goal-setting and monitoring progress, are critical for teachers as they adopt new instructional methods. Recent research indicates that self- efficacy and self-regulation are important for how teachers master their practice. Despite the presence of enough literature on online learning and teaching, however, there is little research examining the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy and self-regulation and their knowledge of MALL and ICT engagement. In this study Self-efficacy and self-regulation were chosen as key constructs in exploring MALL and ICT due to their significant impact on teachers' success in language teaching. This study aims to address the relationship between EFL teachers' knowledge of ICT and MALL with their self-efficacy and self- regulation. The study also sought to explore EFL teachers' attitudes and opinions regarding MALL, ICT knowledge, and their effects on developing teachers' traits.
Materials and Methods: The research employed a mixed-methods design of two phases which enriches the findings, allowing for a more nuanced interpretation of the results and better addressing the complexity of the research question. The quantitative phase involved 120 EFL teachers. They were chosen by convenience sampling from private language centers in Tehran. The participants needed to complete three scales in self-efficacy devised by Smith and Betz’s (2000), self-regulation articulated by Miller and Brown (1991), and ICT and MALL engagement (Zylka et al., 2015(. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify significant relationships between variables. Moreover, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was run to find the correlation coefficient between the variables of the study. The qualitative phase included structured interviews with 20 teachers that were randomly selected to gain deeper insights into their experiences. The qualitative data and interview results were extracted and analyzed manually to identify common themes and patterns in the participants' responses, enriching the overall understanding of their engagement with technology in language instruction.
Findings: The results indicate a positive correlation between teachers' knowledge of ICT and MALL and their self-efficacy and self-regulation. Quantitative analysis revealed that teachers proficient in digital technologies and mobile applications for language learning demonstrated higher confidence and effective self-regulatory strategies. Qualitative insights from structured interviews confirmed teachers' strong understanding of ICT and MALL, highlighting how technology engagement enhanced lesson planning, classroom management, and teaching effectiveness. This combination of quantitative and qualitative data underscores the significant relationship between teachers' technological competencies, self-beliefs, and self-regulatory practices.
Conclusions: The study indicates that teachers' MALL and ICT knowledge is associated with their self –efficacy and self- regulation. It concludes that teachers' use of ICT in teaching practice can be facilitated by their ICT self-efficacy for instructional purposes. It emphasizes the importance of increasing ICT proficiency among educators and underscores technology's critical role in language instruction. Ongoing professional development should focus on integrating ICT and MALL into practices, boosting teachers' confidence and self-regulation for more effective learning environments. The findings suggest tailored support systems for Iranian EFL teachers to improve language education, ensuring that educators adapt their methods to meet the linguistic demands of the 21st century. The use of convenience sampling and a focus on private language centers in Tehran may restrict the generalizability of the study's results. Future research should aim for a more diverse sample across different locations and educational settings to improve the applicability of the findings.
Keywords
- EFL Teacher’s Self-efficacy
- EFL Teacher’s Self-regulation Information and Communication Technology
- Mobile-Assisted Language Learning
Main Subjects
COPYRIGHTS
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
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