The aim of this study was three-fold: first, to describe pre-service teachers&rsquo / (i) critical thinking levels, (ii) attitudes towards teaching for critical thinking, and (iii) self-efficacy beliefs in teaching for critical thinking in terms of performance and outcome efficacy beliefs / secondly, to investigate whether there was a correlation between these three variables / and finally, to examine the relationship between participants&rsquo / certain background variables and their critical thinking levels, attitudes and self efficacy beliefs in teaching for critical thinking. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. The participants of the study were senior pre-service teachers from fourteen state universities across the seven geographical regions in Turkey. Quantitative data were collected by means of (i) a critical thinking test, (ii) an attitude scale, (iii) a self-efficacy scale with two subscales: performance efficacy and outcome efficacy, and (iv) a participant profile form, all of which were designed by the researcher. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (MANOVA) were used. Results indicated that pre-service teachers&rsquo / critical thinking levels were &lsquo / below average&rsquo / however, they had a moderately positive attitude towards and a moderate level of self efficacy in teaching for critical thinking. The correlation analyses indicated that there was a moderate degree of positive correlation between teachers&rsquo / attitude and self efficacy beliefs towards critical thinking. Finally, the results of MANOVA analyses indicated that pre-service teachers&rsquo / gender and level of motivation towards teaching had no impact on their critical thinking levels, attitudes or self efficacy beliefs in teaching for critical thinking. On the other hand, major, academic achievement, high school background, father&rsquo / s level of education, reading behaviour, and prior training in critical thinking had impacts of varying degrees on one or more of the dependent variables.

O ensino de Física Geral nas universidades brasileiras é frequentemente relacionado a dois problemas correlacionados: dificuldade de aprendizagem e desmotivação. Ambos são agravados pela adoção estrita do método de ensino tradicional, com aulas essencialmente expositivas e praticamente sem o incentivo para a interação e colaboração entre os alunos para a aprendizagem dos conteúdos. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa é investigar a melhora na aprendizagem de Física e o desenvolvimento de crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente por meio de uma adaptação do método de ensino ativo Team-Based Learning (TBL). Essas crenças estão diretamente ligadas à motivação, pois tratam-se de julgamentos que o sujeito tem sobre as próprias capacidades de organizar e executar cursos de ações específicos, os quais afetam seu desempenho, quantidade de esforço e persistência para alcançar seus objetivos. O TBL tem como foco melhorar a aprendizagem e desenvolver habilidades de trabalho colaborativo, por meio de uma estrutura que envolve: o gerenciamento de equipes de aprendizagem, tarefas de preparação e aplicação de conceitos, feedback constante e avaliação entre os colegas. Procuramos responder às seguintes questões: (i) Em relação ao desempenho dos alunos em testes padronizados sobre conceitos básicos de eletromagnetismo, quais os principais resultados alcançados com a implementação do TBL em uma disciplina de Física Geral (Eletromagnetismo) em um curso de Física numa universidade pública brasileira (UFRGS)? (ii) Quais as atitudes dos alunos em relação à mudança de método de ensino tradicional para o TBL? (iii) Como o TBL influencia os estudantes em relação às suas crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente? Para responder a tais questões, adotamos as orientações metodológicas para estudo de caso de Yin e, a fim de responder a terceira questão de pesquisa, utilizamos a Teoria Social Cognitiva, em específico, o conceito de autoeficácia, de Bandura. Para a investigação, realizamos um estudo exploratório que teve duas unidades de análise, uma ampla (a turma, com 27 alunos concluintes) e outra específica, João, um sujeito cujo senso de autoeficácia inicial era baixo e que possuía um histórico de reprovações no curso de licenciatura em Física. Os resultados mostraram que os ganhos normalizados médios da turma nos três testes padronizados que foram aplicados foram semelhantes àqueles atingidos por outros métodos ativos de ensino e superiores a resultados obtidos nos mesmos testes em turmas com o método de ensino tradicional. João obteve resultados similares à média da turma em dois dos três testes. As atitudes dos alunos frente ao método de ensino foram positivas tendo sido destacadas principalmente, as tarefas de estudo prévio e as discussões em equipe. Como fatores negativos foram mencionados: o fato da disciplina ser muito trabalhosa e de não ter tempo suficiente em aula para a realização das atividades previstas. Sobre as crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente, constatamos que as crenças dos alunos foram influenciadas positivamente pelas atividades desenvolvidas com o método de ensino, por meio das principais fontes destacadas por Bandura: experiências positivas e vicárias, persuasão social e redução de estresse. Concluímos que o TBL tem potencial para auxiliar na aprendizagem conceitual de Física e em desenvolver crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente. Novas pesquisas são necessárias para dar continuidade a este estudo exploratório, investigando mais profundamente a aprendizagem, por meio de um referencial teórico específico, e relacioná-la com a mudança nas percepções de eficácia pessoal proporcionadas pelo TBL. / The introductory physics education in the Brazilian universities is frequently related to two correlated problems: students’ difficulties of learning and lack of motivation. In both cases, the strict adoption of traditional teaching method (lecturing), with a timid or non-existent incentive for interaction and collaboration among students, plays a major role. The main goal of this research is to investigate the improvement in the physics learning, the development of self-efficacy beliefs in learn physics and in work collaboratively through an adaptation of the active teaching method Team-Based Learning (TBL). These beliefs are directly linked to motivation, because they are based on judgments made by the individuals about their own capabilities to organize and execute specific courses, which affect their performance, amount of effort and persistence to achieve their goals. The TBL focuses on improving learning and develop collaborative work skills, through a structure which involves: management of learning teams, reading assignments and tests of concepts application, constant feedback and evaluation by peers. We tried to answer the following questions: (i) In relation to student performance on standardized tests about basic concepts of electromagnetism, what are the main results achieved with the implementation of the TBL in an introductory physics class (electromagnetism) in one physics course in a Brazilian public university (UFRGS)? (ii) What are the attitudes of the students regarding the change of the traditional teaching method for TBL? (iii) How TBL affects the students regarding their self-efficacy beliefs in learning physics and in work collaboratively? Therefore, to answer the questions, we have adopted the methodological guidelines for case study of Yin and in order to answer the third research question, we use the Social Cognitive Theory, in particular, the concept of self-efficacy, of Bandura. For the investigation, we conducted an exploratory study which had two units of analysis, a wide (the class, with 27 college students) and other specific, João, an individual whose sense of initial self-efficacy was short and had a history of failures in the course degree in physics. The results showed that the mean normalized gains of the three class standardized tests that were applied were similar to those achieved by other active teaching methods and superior to results obtained in the same tests in classes with the traditional teaching method. João achieved the class average in two of the three tests. The attitudes of the students about the method were positive having been highlighted mainly the reading assignments and team discussions. As negative factors were mentioned: the amount of work and not having enough time in class to carry out all the planned activities. About the self-efficacy beliefs in learn physics and in work collaboratively, we found that the beliefs of the students were positively influenced by the activities developed with the teaching method, through the main sources highlighted by Bandura: positive experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion and stress reduction. We conclude that TBL has the potential to assist in the conceptual learning of physics and developing self-efficacy beliefs in learn physics and in work collaboratively. Further research is necessary to continue this exploratory study, by investigating deeper into learning through a specific a theoretical reference and relate it to the change in perceptions of personal efficacy provided by the TBL.

O ensino de Física Geral nas universidades brasileiras é frequentemente relacionado a dois problemas correlacionados: dificuldade de aprendizagem e desmotivação. Ambos são agravados pela adoção estrita do método de ensino tradicional, com aulas essencialmente expositivas e praticamente sem o incentivo para a interação e colaboração entre os alunos para a aprendizagem dos conteúdos. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa é investigar a melhora na aprendizagem de Física e o desenvolvimento de crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente por meio de uma adaptação do método de ensino ativo Team-Based Learning (TBL). Essas crenças estão diretamente ligadas à motivação, pois tratam-se de julgamentos que o sujeito tem sobre as próprias capacidades de organizar e executar cursos de ações específicos, os quais afetam seu desempenho, quantidade de esforço e persistência para alcançar seus objetivos. O TBL tem como foco melhorar a aprendizagem e desenvolver habilidades de trabalho colaborativo, por meio de uma estrutura que envolve: o gerenciamento de equipes de aprendizagem, tarefas de preparação e aplicação de conceitos, feedback constante e avaliação entre os colegas. Procuramos responder às seguintes questões: (i) Em relação ao desempenho dos alunos em testes padronizados sobre conceitos básicos de eletromagnetismo, quais os principais resultados alcançados com a implementação do TBL em uma disciplina de Física Geral (Eletromagnetismo) em um curso de Física numa universidade pública brasileira (UFRGS)? (ii) Quais as atitudes dos alunos em relação à mudança de método de ensino tradicional para o TBL? (iii) Como o TBL influencia os estudantes em relação às suas crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente? Para responder a tais questões, adotamos as orientações metodológicas para estudo de caso de Yin e, a fim de responder a terceira questão de pesquisa, utilizamos a Teoria Social Cognitiva, em específico, o conceito de autoeficácia, de Bandura. Para a investigação, realizamos um estudo exploratório que teve duas unidades de análise, uma ampla (a turma, com 27 alunos concluintes) e outra específica, João, um sujeito cujo senso de autoeficácia inicial era baixo e que possuía um histórico de reprovações no curso de licenciatura em Física. Os resultados mostraram que os ganhos normalizados médios da turma nos três testes padronizados que foram aplicados foram semelhantes àqueles atingidos por outros métodos ativos de ensino e superiores a resultados obtidos nos mesmos testes em turmas com o método de ensino tradicional. João obteve resultados similares à média da turma em dois dos três testes. As atitudes dos alunos frente ao método de ensino foram positivas tendo sido destacadas principalmente, as tarefas de estudo prévio e as discussões em equipe. Como fatores negativos foram mencionados: o fato da disciplina ser muito trabalhosa e de não ter tempo suficiente em aula para a realização das atividades previstas. Sobre as crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente, constatamos que as crenças dos alunos foram influenciadas positivamente pelas atividades desenvolvidas com o método de ensino, por meio das principais fontes destacadas por Bandura: experiências positivas e vicárias, persuasão social e redução de estresse. Concluímos que o TBL tem potencial para auxiliar na aprendizagem conceitual de Física e em desenvolver crenças de autoeficácia em aprender física e em trabalhar colaborativamente. Novas pesquisas são necessárias para dar continuidade a este estudo exploratório, investigando mais profundamente a aprendizagem, por meio de um referencial teórico específico, e relacioná-la com a mudança nas percepções de eficácia pessoal proporcionadas pelo TBL. / The introductory physics education in the Brazilian universities is frequently related to two correlated problems: students’ difficulties of learning and lack of motivation. In both cases, the strict adoption of traditional teaching method (lecturing), with a timid or non-existent incentive for interaction and collaboration among students, plays a major role. The main goal of this research is to investigate the improvement in the physics learning, the development of self-efficacy beliefs in learn physics and in work collaboratively through an adaptation of the active teaching method Team-Based Learning (TBL). These beliefs are directly linked to motivation, because they are based on judgments made by the individuals about their own capabilities to organize and execute specific courses, which affect their performance, amount of effort and persistence to achieve their goals. The TBL focuses on improving learning and develop collaborative work skills, through a structure which involves: management of learning teams, reading assignments and tests of concepts application, constant feedback and evaluation by peers. We tried to answer the following questions: (i) In relation to student performance on standardized tests about basic concepts of electromagnetism, what are the main results achieved with the implementation of the TBL in an introductory physics class (electromagnetism) in one physics course in a Brazilian public university (UFRGS)? (ii) What are the attitudes of the students regarding the change of the traditional teaching method for TBL? (iii) How TBL affects the students regarding their self-efficacy beliefs in learning physics and in work collaboratively? Therefore, to answer the questions, we have adopted the methodological guidelines for case study of Yin and in order to answer the third research question, we use the Social Cognitive Theory, in particular, the concept of self-efficacy, of Bandura. For the investigation, we conducted an exploratory study which had two units of analysis, a wide (the class, with 27 college students) and other specific, João, an individual whose sense of initial self-efficacy was short and had a history of failures in the course degree in physics. The results showed that the mean normalized gains of the three class standardized tests that were applied were similar to those achieved by other active teaching methods and superior to results obtained in the same tests in classes with the traditional teaching method. João achieved the class average in two of the three tests. The attitudes of the students about the method were positive having been highlighted mainly the reading assignments and team discussions. As negative factors were mentioned: the amount of work and not having enough time in class to carry out all the planned activities. About the self-efficacy beliefs in learn physics and in work collaboratively, we found that the beliefs of the students were positively influenced by the activities developed with the teaching method, through the main sources highlighted by Bandura: positive experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion and stress reduction. We conclude that TBL has the potential to assist in the conceptual learning of physics and developing self-efficacy beliefs in learn physics and in work collaboratively. Further research is necessary to continue this exploratory study, by investigating deeper into learning through a specific a theoretical reference and relate it to the change in perceptions of personal efficacy provided by the TBL.

The purpose of this study was to explore Turkish kindergarten early career stage teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs towards technology and their technology integration practices in their classrooms by answering: What are self-efficacy beliefs of Turkish kindergarten early career stage teachers towards technology? How do Turkish kindergarten early career teachers integrate technology into their classrooms’ instructions? The study was designed as a qualitative multiple case study and guided by Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory and Mishra and Koehler’s (2006) TPACK conceptual framework. I conducted this study in Istanbul, where is the most crowded and metropolitan city in Turkey. The schools were chosen by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) after the permissions were received from IRB and MoNE, and the participants were assigned by the directors of schools based on research criteria. Participants were chosen purposefully, and there were four female kindergarten teachers in their early career stages, which were identified based on Steffy, Wolfe, Pasch and Enz (2000)’ stages: novice teacher and apprentice teacher, teaching five-year-old students at technologically well-equipped classrooms, and who had a bachelor’s degree in preschool teaching. Data was collected from three sessions of semi-structured interviews and two sessions of observation based on TIM-O. Data was coded and analyzed based on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) to make sense teachers’ technology self-efficacy beliefs towards technology and Technology Integration Matrix (TIM)’s to understand their technology practice into classroom instructions.

This embedded mixed method study addresses the problems teachers have reported in believing themselves capable to implement the Common Core State Standards with students in special education. This study examines the effect professional development on implementing the Common Core State Standards had on the participating teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs. The participants (N=21) in this study were drawn from a 20-day professional development for teachers based on implementing the Common Core State Standards. The instrument used in the study was the Teacher Efficacy Beliefs System-Self. Data were subject to both statistical and qualitative analysis. The results of this study provide insight into the self-efficacy beliefs of the participants during and shortly after professional development about implementing the Common Core State Standards with students in special education. The Wilcoxon test of signed ranks revealed a significant increase in the TEB-S subscale areas of Accommodating Individual Differences and Managing Learning Routines, but not in Positive Classroom Climate. Qualitative analysis of data found both support for the statistical findings and also contradicted the statistical findings. Further qualitative analysis showed that practices presented in the professional development such as using the arts, formative assessment, and technology were effective in maintaining their teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs after professional development. Factors unrelated to the professional development, such as support from administrators and colleagues and poorly working technology were not supportive in carrying over the increase in teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs in implementing the Common Core State Standards with students in special education. The study is framed by Social Cognitive Theory and organized into 5 parts. Chapter I provides an overview of the study. Chapter II includes a review of literature related to teachers’ self-efficacy belief’s Common Core State Standards, and professional development. Chapter III describes the methodology of the study. Chapter IV presents the results of the analysis of data. Chapter IV reports the findings of the study and presents the conclusions of the study and ideas for future research.

This study examined how self-efficacy beliefs, a central construct of social cognitive theory, might be used to inform educational leadership and policy decisions related to school accountability measures. A survey of 112 principals in Florida was used to investigate the degree to which principals believed the goals of federal and state school accountability measures (the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Florida School Grades Plan) were actually attainable, and to what degree they believed their leadership actually helped achieve these goals. A large majority (83.8%) of respondents believed the state goals to be attainable, whereas only a minority (20.7%) believed the federal goals could be attained. This disparity was associated with a significant difference in self-efficacy beliefs related to the plans, and in the associated leadership behavior of principals. This significant difference in principal self-efficacy beliefs could predict a disparity in leadership effort toward goal attainment. The study suggested that policymakers should be cautious about revising the goals of the Florida School Grades Plan, since principals' self-efficacy beliefs related to the plan were already quite high. In contrast, the findings suggested that policymakers should look to revising the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to correct the dearth of principal belief in the actual attainability of its goals.

This qualitative research study explored the leadership perceptions of high school administrators who have been successful in raising academic achievement for Black males. Utilizing semi-structured interviews which served as the primary data source, this study aimed to uncover specific school-level factors that were being optimized in public high schools to help increase graduation rates for Black male students. In addition, a review of school documents acted as secondary data sources and offered more detailed views about the case studies. After thorough analysis of the data, the findings revealed five factors that the high school administrators were optimizing better support their Black male learners: 1) hiring Black males, 2) the staff, 3) school activities, 4) collaborations with community partners, and 5) formal and informal methods of offering positive feedback and special recognition. These five factors were found as having the greatest influence on the academic achievement of the males. Overall, the study's findings aligned with earlier research on student achievement. Based on the findings, it was clear that the five factors promoted a certain degree of academic achievement independently. However, the researcher posits that, if implemented simultaneously, the five factors are likely to build a greater network of support for Black male high school students that will help boost achievement that is converted to increased graduation rates. Thus, implications for practice for other high school administrators as well as recommendations for future research emerged from the findings of this study. / Doctor of Education / This qualitative research study explored the leadership perceptions of high school administrators who have been successful in raising academic achievement for Black males. Utilizing semi-structured interviews which served as the primary data source, this study aimed to uncover specific school-level factors that were being optimized in public high schools to help increase graduation rates for Black male students. In addition, a review of school documents acted as secondary data sources and offered more detailed views about the case studies. After thorough analysis of the data, the findings revealed five factors that the high school administrators were optimizing better support their Black male learners: 1) hiring Black males, 2) the staff, 3) school activities, 4) collaborations with community partners, and 5) formal and informal methods of offering positive feedback and special recognition. These five factors were found as having the greatest influence on the academic achievement of the males. Overall, the study's findings aligned with earlier research on student achievement. Based on the findings, it was clear that the five factors promoted a certain degree of academic achievement independently. However, the researcher posits that, if implemented simultaneously, the five factors are likely to build a greater network of support for Black male high school students that will help boost achievement that is converted to increased graduation rates. Thus, implications for practice for other high school administrators as well as recommendations for future research emerged from the findings of this study.

L'enseignement des sciences est souvent perçu, par les enseignants, comme une discipline complexe à enseigner. La formation continue permet de modifier cette perception en offrant de l'accompagnement pédagogique pour développer les pratiques d'enseignement des sciences et rehausser le sentiment d'efficacité des enseignants. Cette recherche s'intéresse aux effets d'une formation continue sur le sentiment d'efficacité des enseignants et leur enseignement des sciences au primaire. L'approche choisie est celle d'une recherche qualitative et la méthode est celle de l'étude de cas, de type exploratoire. Dans le cadre de cette recherche, six enseignants ayant suivi divers programmes de formation continue afin de développer leur pratique d'enseignement des sciences ont été rencontrés. Des entrevues et des observations (grilles basées sur l'échelle du sentiment d'efficacité des enseignants (STEBI)) sont utilisées pour la collecte de données. Les résultats de l'analyse de données indiquent, dans un premier temps, que les enseignants rencontrés perçoivent que la formation continue a des effets positifs sur leur sentiment d'efficacité, notamment en ce qui a trait à la première dimension relative à la compétence à enseigner les sciences (CE). Dans un deuxième temps, la comparaison des données des pratiques déclarées et des pratiques effectives révèlent l'apport considérable de l'engagement du milieu et de la collaboration des pairs sur le développement de la deuxième dimension relative à l'efficacité de l'enseignement (EE). / Primary teachers have difficulties with science teaching and as a consequence, this subject matter is often neglected. Teacher development in this discipline can contribute to change in teacher practices and impact on teachers beliefs towards science. This study explores the effect of professionnal development in science, given over a period of time, on teacher practices and self-efficacy beliefs. A qualitative approach using an exploratory case study was chosen for this research. For that purpose, several data collection tools such as interviews and observations, using the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI) were chosen. The results indicate that the six teachers participating in the study perceive professional development in science as having a positive effect on their self-efficacy beliefs (especially on their personal science teaching efficacy (PSTE)). In addition, the comparison of the data collected from the interviews and the observations suggests that teachers who participate in professional development as a group have a high personal science teaching efficacy (PSTE), but also a higher science teaching outcome expectancy (STOE).

<p>The dissertation includes two independent chapters which investigated the experiences of individuals with disabilities in connection with societal attitudes regarding disability. The first article is a systematized review which analyzes and synthesizes the existing literature on implicit and explicit disability attitudes across multiple domains (e.g., educational; occupational; healthcare). Chapter 1 identifies common themes across the existing literature and identifies potential predictors and buffers of negative disability attitudes. The article concludes with a call to counseling psychologists to address negative disability attitudes utilizing the roles and themes of the field. Finally, suggestions are made regarding the development and implementation of interventions to help address negative disability attitudes and the subsequent harmful effects. </p><p>The second article is an empirical study that examines factors related to the persistence intentions of individuals with disabilities to address the high attrition rates of this population within postsecondary environments. A moderated mediation model is proposed to address four hypotheses. First, I hypothesized academic self-efficacy would mediate the relationship between stereotype threat and persistence intentions. Second, coping self-efficacy would mediate the relationship between stereotype threat and persistence intentions. Third, social self-efficacy would mediate the relationship between stereotype threat and persistence intentions. Fourth, I hypothesized that endorsing a growth mindset would buffer against the negative indirect relationship between stereotype threat and persistence intentions which operate through academic self-efficacy. Data were collected from postsecondary students who identified as having one or multiple diagnosed disabilities at a large public university in the Midwest. The study results supported my first hypothesis that academic self-efficacy would significantly mediate the relationship between stereotype threat and persistence intentions. Additionally, the results revealed that high levels of perceived stereotype threat were associated with lower levels of coping self-efficacy and social self-efficacy, as the researcher anticipated. However, our second and third hypotheses were rejected due to these mediating factors not significantly influencing a participants’ intentions to persist within the academic environment. Finally, the results suggested that one’s mindset of intelligence was a positive main effect predictor of academic self-efficacy. However, contrary to our fourth hypothesis, mindset of intelligence did not significantly moderate the negative indirect relation between stereotype threat and persistence intentions that operate through academic self-efficacy.</p>

Research on self-efficacy has been a productive field and abundant research has shown that teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs influence teachers’ actions and performances and thus affect students’ learning outcomes. However, there is a lack of literature on EFL teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and even less research was set in Chinese EFL contexts. On the one hand, this study was conducted to provide a general picture of the current status of EFL teachers’ perceived English proficiency, self-rated self-efficacy beliefs and self-reported teaching practices in terms of some demographic perspectives; On the other hand, it aimed to explore the correlations among Chinese primary EFL teachers’ perceived English proficiency, self-efficacy beliefs and teaching practices. The quantitative study surveyed 217 in-service primary EFL teachers. The descriptive results showed that: (1) EFL teachers varied in perceived English proficiency in terms of age, years of teaching experience and college major; (2) age and teaching experience did while college major didn’t make a difference for EFL teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs; (3) the surveyed EFL teachers, in general, had a greater preference to communication-oriented language teaching (COLT) than form-oriented language teaching (FOLT). The results from the correlational statistics showed that: (1) perceived English proficiency (PEP), on the whole, had a significant predictive effect on self-efficacy beliefs (SEB). It was striking that among the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) of English language, speaking had the most significant predictive effect on self-efficacy beliefs; (2) EFL teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs (SEB) had a predictive effect on COLT practices whereas not on FOLT practices; (3) The mediation model of showing the causal impacts of PEP (through SEB) on COLT was tested. i.e. Chinese primary EFL teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs played a complete mediating role between perceived English proficiency and communication-oriented language teaching. The findings of the present study added on the compelling evidence that self-efficacy beliefs matter in the realm of primary EFL teaching in China. In light of these findings, implications were generated to primary EFL teacher education and in-service EFL teacher training programs, such as courses related to improving English proficiency, especially speaking skills, should be offered for non-English major EFL teachers; training courses related to improving self-efficacy beliefs, especially on classroom management strategies, and the recommended communicative-oriented language teaching practices should be offered to pre-service and inexperienced in-service EFL teachers.