Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1346
https://doi.org/
10.69639/arandu.v12i1.680
The Relationship between Pre
-service EFL Teachers´ self-
confidence and language performance

La relación entre la autoconfianza de los futuros docentes de Inglés y su desempeño en
el idioma

Kerly Jacquelin Chimbo Jácome

Kchimboj@uteq.edu.ec

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2023-7867

Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo

Ecuador - Quevedo

Jardel Coutinho dos Santos

jcoutinhod@uteq.edu.ec

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8626-7229

Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo

Ecuador Quevedo

Artículo recibido: 10 enero 2025 - Aceptado para publicación: 20 febrero 2025

Conflictos de intereses: Ninguno que declarar

ABSTRACT

This study explores the relationship between self
-confidence and linguistic performance in pre-
service English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. Self
-confidence influences participation,
anxiety, and communication in language learning. Using a mixed
-methods approach, including
surveys, observations, and interviews, the study examines the exp
eriences of students in their
seventh level of training at a public university in Ecuador.
Findings show that many struggle with
speaking English in public due to fear of making mistakes, leading to hesitations, reduced

participation, and difficulties with
fluency and pronunciation. Personal experiences, emotions,
and external feedback shape their confidence levels. While some show resilience, others

experience linguistic insecurity, affecting their overall performance.
The study highlights the need
to create supportive environments that encourage risk
-taking, offer constructive feedback, and
promote collaborative learning. It also emphasizes addressing emotional factors in teacher

training programs to help future educato
rs develop their linguistic competence with confidence,
ultimately benefiting their students’ language learning.

Keywords
: self-confidence, language performance, pre-service EFL teachers
RESUMEN

Este estudio analiza la relación entre la autoconfianza y el desempeño lingüístico en docentes en
formación de inglés como lengua extranjera (EFL). La autoconfianza influye en la participación,
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1347
la ansiedad y la comunicación efectiva en el aprendizaje de idiomas. Mediante un enfoque mixto,
que incluye encuestas, observaciones y entrevistas, se examinan las experiencias de estudiantes
en el séptimo nivel de formación en una universidad ecuatoriana. Los hallazgos revelan que
muchos enfrentan dificultades para hablar inglés en público debido al miedo a cometer errores, lo
que afecta su fluidez y pronunciación. Las experiencias personales, las emociones y la
retroalimentación externa impactan sus niveles de confianza. Mientras algunos muestran
resiliencia, otros experimentan inseguridad lingüística. El estudio destaca la importancia de
fomentar entornos de apoyo que incentiven la toma de riesgos, brinden retroalimentación
constructiva y promuevan el aprendizaje colaborativo. Además, subraya la necesidad de abordar
factores emocionales en la formación docente para fortalecer la competencia lingüística de los
futuros profesores y sus estudiantes.

Palabras clave: autoconfianza, desempeño lingüístico, docentes en formación de EFL

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Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1348
INTRODUCTION

Trust has gained prominence as a value and social dynamic and as an object of research;

on the one hand, its importance for social cohesion, coexistence, human development, and social

and political democratization is also sufficiently recognized., especial
ly for improving
educational processes (Peña et al., 2018).

Emotions can both stimulate student participation and thought processes and get in the way

of their speaking. Negative feelings
, including melancholy, worry, anger, and low self-
confidence
, might interfere with student's ability to learn (Nadila, 2021). When it comes to
studying a second foreign language, students typically feel more discouraged than encouraged

(Nadila, 2021). Lack of confidence is one of the emotional states that makes this kind of activity

challenging.
Students' emotional conditions, such as low self-esteem, can provide distractions
throughout the language
-learning process (Nadila, 2021).
Consequently, one personal attribute
that helps people succeed in learning a foreign
language is self
-confidence. According to investigations, mastering a foreign language will not
be possible without self
-confidence, which can either help or hinder academic progress
(Abdulhussain et al., 2017). Learners of foreign languages who are generally confident in their

abilities tend to do well and thi
nk highly of themselves. (Abdulhussain et al., 2017)
In the context of learning a foreign language, Nadila (2021) explains that students

frequently encounter more discouraging than supportive emotions. One key emotional challenge

is the need for self
-confidence, which disrupts the learning process. Feelings of tension, anxiety,
and nervousness can significantly hinder students' ability to perform well in a foreign language

classroom (Santos et al., 2020). Therefore, enhancing students' self
-confidence is essential to
improving their success in learning a new
language
R
esearch carried out in Ecuador by Santos et al. (2022) highlights the scarcity of this type
of article in the country in the period from 2010 to January 2020
. For this reason, the present
research will try to fill in this gap. Thus, the research question that guide
s this study is: What is
the Relationship between Pre
-service EFL Teachers' self-confidence and language performance?
Literature Review

Self Confidence

Confidence is a social use category that has evolved into the cornerstone of all human

interactions. It forms the basis of educational relationships since they embrace a contract, whether

tangible or intangible, which ensures the safety of people individua
lly and collectively. (Buitrago
& Sandoval
-Estupiñán, 2022) Self-confidence is an attitude or feeling of confidence in the ability
of oneself so that the person concerned is not too anxious in his actions (Nety et al., 2020).

Kansil et al. (2022) state that the ability to execute to a positive degree is described by

terms like "perceived competence," "perceived capability," "self
-efficacy," and "self-confidence",
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1349
Kansil et al. (2022) believe that self
-confidence, or assurance of one’s skills, abilities, and
judgment, is regarded as one of the most powerful motivators and behavior regulators in people's

daily lives.

Abdulhussain et al. (2017) describe language learning
as a complicated process affected
by cognitive and affective factors that constitute the main source of individual differences in

foreign language learning. Emotional mastery is the emotional side of human behavior and

involves various personality aspects
such as emotion, attitude, motivation, personality, anxiety,
and self
-confidence. In the context of learning a foreign language. Nadila (2021) explains that
students frequently encounter emotions that
are more discouraging than supportive. Among all
these, self
-confidence is one of the most influential variables affecting learning. Therefore, it is
one of the central impulses in humans and can influence a person’s life for better or worse.

(Abdulhussai
n et al. 2017).
Self
-confidence can provide learners motivation and energy to become positive about their
learning (Nety et al., 2020).
A student must take risks and engage in the learning activities, and
those who have self
-confidence are assured of their abilities and are setting goals for themselves
and work
ing hard to achieve their goals without worrying about the outcomes (Akbari &
Sahibzada, 2020).

Al
-Hebaish (2012) notes that lacking self-confidence can disrupt students' language
learning. Feelings of tension, worry, and nervousness hinder their performance in a foreign

language classroom. This silence stems from fear, shyness, limited vocabulary, p
oor grammar,
and incorrect pronunciation, which collectively undermine their confidence and willingness to

speak. (Al
-Hebaish, 2012).
In this study
, we define self-confidence as the perception or positive attitude we have of
our own abilities or talents. We are confident of our ability to meet our goals, targets, or tasks

effectively. This does not imply that we are superior to other people but rather gives us the se
curity
that despite the circumstances or obstacles, we
can learn, adapt, and advance.
Language Performance

Universities aim to recruit qualified graduates who can positively serve the community,

mainly through effective communication (Nugroho, 2017b). For EFL students preparing to

become teachers, self
-confidence is crucial to achieving better language performance. Given that
pre
-service teachers play a vital role in the language development of their future students, it is
essential to understand the factors that influence linguistic performance to improve professional

growth and effectiveness. (Nugroho, 2017b)

The Ecuadorian English language curriculum (2016) defines language competence as the

ability to communicate effectively. That is, although knowledge of language [systems] will be

present [grammar, lexis, etc.], these should not be the main focus of the lea
rning process. Rather,
the emphasis should be on the performative aspects of language to engage in purposeful
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1350
communicative interaction and make sense. This is accomplished through several activities to

support live interaction, raise students' awareness and skills, and create a positive commitment to

support intrinsic motivation for learning English.

Using
language exclusively on specific occasions and for specified purposes is one of the
main potential issues experienced by EFL students (Akbari, 2016). This makes EFL students more

likely to experience learning difficulties than other students who use Engli
sh as their first
language daily, like ESL students.

A study done by Mosha (2014) investigated
African pre-service students’ language
performance
; the author used interviews, classroom observation, questionnaires, and document
review to collect data. The findings demonstrated that while students were highly motivated to

learn English, their academic performance was impacted by the shortage of English teachers
and
their lack of preparation or training. This was further compounded by the limited practice of the

English language both at the institution and at ho
me, as well as the lack of educational materials
and financial resources on the part of the students.

METHODOLOGY

This study employed the phenomenological research approach to analyze human

behavior, what they say, and what they do, in this case, to analyze the pre
-service teachers´
experiences related to self
-confidence and language performance. Umanilo (2019) describes that
the phenomenological approach aims to deeply understand the structu
re of the consciousness of
the people in a particular situation and to understand the reasons and meaning of actions related

to the purpose of survival.

Method

A mixed method was used because
, according to Dawadi et al. (2021) this method helps
to understand the situation through indicative results by exploring through tools like participant

observation and interviews
, whereas quantitative methods help derive objective findings using
surveys. Also, it is a rigorous method that provides a deeper meaning of the phenomenon and

enhances its validity (McKim, 2017).

Context and Participants

This study was conducted during the first term of the academic year 2024
- 2025 at a
public
University located in Quevedo. The participants of the quantitative part were pre-service
teachers at the 7th level from the Pedagogy of National and Foreign Language career, in contrast,

purposive sampling was used to select two pre
-service teachers from the quantitative phase,
focusing on those with significant self
-confidence challenges in language performance. This
ensured diverse perspectives and deeper insights
into the phenomenon (Creswell & Creswell,
2018).
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Data Collection Instruments

The data were collected in two sections, the first section was quantitative, while the

second phase was qualitative and both were conducted in Spanish to reduce language barriers,

and to provide comfort to the participants so that they can express themselv
es more clearly in
their native language.
Through verification, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to
address a particular research issue may improve validity; complementary findings draw attention

to various facets of the
phenomena (Heale & Forbes, 2013).
Survey

The questionnaire method, widely recognized for its ability to
collect precise information
from a large group of individuals (Thomas et al., 2018), was employed in this research. The

designed questionnaire consisted of 18 questions, utilizing a four
-point Likert scale ranging from
"1
- strongly agree" to "4 - strongly disagree." It was structured into three sections: the first
gathered demographic data such as gender and the length of time participants had been studying

English; the second focused on self
-confidence, and the third addressed linguistic performance.
The
questionnaire was distributed via Google Forms in the participants' native language
(Spanish), with a one
-week deadline for completion.
Observation

One of the few social science methodological approaches that emphasizes in
-person
behavior observation is participant observation (Zimmerman & Wieder, 1977), which was

conducted over a one
-week period to monitor the progression of the phenomenon being
inve
stigated. The observation focused on two participants, one of whom, in contrast to the other,
exhibited a lack of self
-confidence, particularly during activities involving public speaking. To
carry out this activity, a checklist was used along with a noteb
ook for taking notes, allowing us
to collect data with greater precision.

Interview

As an interview is
fundamentally an organized and intentional dialogue, where the
spontaneity of the interview is the enriching foundation of data collection (Bampton & Cowton,

2002), a set of five pre
-prepared questions was used, focusing on the participants' level of self-
confidence, the strategies they employ to cope with feelings of insecurity, specific experiences

that have positively or negatively impacted their linguistic performance, how making mistakes

when speaking English has affected them emotionally, and how they
perceive their level of
preparation as future teachers influence their confidence in teaching English. The interviews were

conducted in Spanish with the participants to ensure they felt more comfortable expressing their

ideas. Each interview lasted approx
imately 10 minutes per participant.
Visual Narrative

Visual narratives are highly stimulating for the development of research practices due to

their ability to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience (Cohn, 2020). For this
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1352
reason, the two participants were asked to draw their perspective on self
-confidence when
speaking English in public or in front of their class.

Data Analysis

Quantitative Data

The analysis was conducted using the statistical program SPSS 25, a widely recognized

and utilized tool in research for processing and analyzing quantitative data (Pacheco, et al., 2020).

Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, and frequ
encies were applied, which
allowed for a general and detailed overview of the student's beliefs regarding various aspects of

language learning and their self
-confidence. This approach helped identify common trends among
the participants and highlighted pot
ential individual differences in their perceptions and attitudes
toward language learning. In this way, the analysis provided a solid foundation for interpreting

the data and drawing meaningful conclusions.

Qualitative Data

A key step in qualitative research is theoretical sampling, which entails gathering, coding,

and analyzing data. Based on the concepts and categories that emerge from the initial analysis,

the researcher consciously chooses which more aspects need to be in
vestigated as the theory
evolves (Noble & Mitchell, 2016). In line with this approach, during the interview process, several

important concepts emerged that highlight the participants' perceptions and behaviors regarding

the relationship between Pre
-service EFL Teachers' self-confidence and language performance,
including the following:

Ethical Considerations

It is crucial for any research to protect human participants by applying the proper ethical

norms. Given the intricacy of the research process, ethical issues are especially relevant in

qualitative studies (Arifin S, 2018).
Considering this, the present article ensured that all
participants voluntarily signed the informed consent form, as a prior explanation about the nature

and purpose of the research was provided before starting the investigation. It is important to note

that participants were free to withdraw at any time w
ithout any consequences. Additionally, data
confidentiality was respected, guaranteeing anonymity and the secure storage of information.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Quantitative Data

To engage with the research's purpose of understanding the relationship between pre
-
service EFL teachers’ self
-confidence and language performance, the questionnaire was divided
into two sections, each with eight questions. It utilized a Likert scale of f
our levels: 1 = strongly
disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, and 4 = strongly agree.
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1353
Tabl
e 1
Self
-confidence
Self
-confidence
Statement
1 2 3 4 Mean Std
Dev.

I feel confident in my ability to teach English effectively.
0 3 27 7 9,25 12,18
I trust my knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.
0 4 29 4 9,25 13,30
I feel
confident speaking English in front of others. 0 15 18 4 9,25 8,62
I trust in my ability to plan and deliver English lessons.
0 3 28 6 9,25 12,74
I believe that I can handle unexpected challenges while

teaching English.

0
7 28 2 9,25 12,84
I feel
confident with my pronunciation and fluency while
teaching English.

0
10 21 6 9,25 8,85
I trust in my ability to evaluate students' linguistic

performance accurately.

0
5 29 3 9,25 13,33
I trust in my skills to catch students' attention during

English lessons.

0
3 31 3 9,25 14,57
Note: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree.

According to the first section, the participants' responses indicated that nearly half of them

do not feel confident speaking English in front of others. 40.5% agreed with the following

statement: "When presenting, I started to freeze, which caused me to f
orget everything I had
prepared in advance." This suggests that, due to their lack of self
-confidence, no matter how much
they prepare, they will not feel secure speaking in public. There are various reasons behind this

lack of confidence, including the em
ergence of doubts about their abilities, forgetting vocabulary,
or experiencing both simultaneously. These factors are significant in understanding why students

struggle to feel confident speaking in public. The majority of students reported that their ins
ecurity
stems from doubts about their skills. (Tahir & Korompot, 2023)

Additionally, another factor closely tied to this situation is the lack of confidence in their

pronunciation and fluency in English
. 27% of participants stated that making mistakes while
speaking affects them emotionally, causing anxiety and leading them to question, "What level am

I at? Is it high or low?". This emotional distress can be understood through the lens of insecurity.

Inse
curity is a generalized uneasiness or anxiety that arises from the linguistic skills meet the
national standards for English
as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. feeling vulnerable or
findable, threatening one’s ego or self
-image, and leading individuals to doubt their own worth
(Merryanti et al., 2024).
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1354
Tabl
e 2
Language performance

Language Performance

Statement
1 2 3 4 Mean Std
Dev.

I can express ideas clearly and effectively in English.
0 11 24 2 9,25 10,94
I can use a wide range of vocabulary appropriate for

teaching contexts.
0 11 23 3 9,25 8,90
My understanding of English grammar allows me to teach

it effectively.
0 7 25 5 9,25 9,44
I receive positive feedback on my linguistic skills from

colleagues and supervisors.
1 4 30 2 9,25 12,03
I am capable of conducting full lessons in
English without
resorting to the students' native language.
0 7 25 5 9,25 9,44
I effectively correct my own linguistic errors while

teaching.
1 2 29 5 9,25 11,50
I feel comfortable using English in both informal and

formal teaching contexts.
0 6 26 5 9,25 9,93
My linguistic skills meet the national standards for

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers.
0 9 28 0 9,25 11,43
Note: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree.

As shown in the second section, 29.7% of participants revealed that they struggle to express

their ideas clearly and effectively in English, with some even feeling nervous when doing so. One

potential factor contributing to this difficulty is the presence
of cultural barriers, which may hinder
students' willingness to voice their opinions in class
especially when there are disagreements
within the group. These barriers, along with the challenges of clearly expressing ideas, have been

identified as key facto
rs affecting students' communication (Barker, 2016). This difficulty can be
further understood in the context of a statement made by some participants: “A teacher has to be

very specific about what they are going to say.” Beghetto (2007) suggests that whet
her students
view classroom conversations as valuable opportunities to take intellectual risks for creative

expression can significantly influence their anxiety about revealing their limitations. To mitigate

this, teachers must work diligently to foster a
classroom environment that encourages students to
take these risks with confidence. Additionally, teachers need to remain open to the diverse

viewpoints of their students, even when these perspectives seem only marginally relevant to the

discussion.

Qualitative Data

Joseph

Joseph has a high level of confidence. The reason behind this is because he is always

prepared for what he needs to do. During the interview
, he mentioned, "my confidence level is
high, I am always sure of what I'm going to say (Interview). According to Ghafar
(2023) self-
confidence has been linked to a positive impact on one's degree of English language proficiency.

Higher levels of self
-confidence are positively correlated with improved English language
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1355
proficiency. Persistence and effort enable maintaining focus to tackle the simplest to the most

complex activities. This reflects the participants' ability and commitment to face challenges and

adapt to the adversities they encounter (Hollenbeck & Hall, 20
04).
All students naturally make mistakes and face setbacks as part of their learning processes.

A cognitive
-constructivist, knowledge-based approach to education assumes that errors can be
addressed and learned from (Tulis, 2013). For Joseph, his nervousness d
rives him, and his
mistakes help him realize that the learning process is not always perfect. According to Zander et

al. (2014), the constructive handling of mistakes improves learning outcomes and requires both

an affective and a cognitive dimension: a po
sitive learning orientation toward errors and a low
fear of making mistakes. In this context, students who feel confident that they will not be ridiculed

for their mistakes are more likely to report lower negative feelings and adopt more positive

attitudes
toward errors. On the other hand, if teachers overlook or judge students' mistakes, these
students are more likely to avoid taking risks and may even conceal their mistakes rather than

share their misunderstandings (Tulis, 2013).

Joseph's growing confidence is further strengthened by receiving constructive feedback,

which allows him to improve and feel more assured in his abilities. Proper feedback motivates

students to build their knowledge and tackle more complex tasks. It helps
learners identify areas
for growth, guiding them when facing challenges. Al
-Ghamdi (2017) highlights that teacher
feedback increases student engagement and supports their learning journey. By focusing on areas

of improvement, students can develop the neces
sary skills for future success.
However, some argue that feedback can have negative effects on students' performance.

For example, overly critical feedback may create anxiety and hinder the learning environment.

Negative feedback can lower a student's self
-esteem, causing them to feel anxious or discouraged,
ultimately affecting their confidence (Al
-Ghamdi, 2017). This is why feedback must be
constructive and supportive, helping students feel empowered and motivated to continue learning.

This approach can be seen in the visual narrative of Joseph
, who speaks confidently in front
of an audience. Their facial expression is warm and assured, and their open body language

suggests a deep comfort with the situation. The way they dress balances professionalism with

approachability, giving the impression o
f competence and relatability. As they engage with their
audience through hand gestures and use a whiteboard, they demonstrate preparedness and

certainty, portraying someone who enjoys speaking in
public and does so with confidence.
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1356
Figure 1

Joseph
speaking in public
Joseph's confidence is not only reflected in his visual narrative but was also demonstrated

during the observation process, in which he gave several presentations. In all of them, he remained

calm and confident in the
information he conveyed. Moreover, his statement was confirmed: "I
find public speaking fun; it's like a challenge." This declaration reinforces his positive attitude

toward public speaking, seeing it not as a source of anxiety but as an opportunity for gr
owth and
personal challenge.

Steve

Unlike Joseph, Steve has a low level of confidence because he frequently compares his

English proficiency to that of his classmates. He acknowledged this struggle by stating, “I always

try to do my best; however, the biggest mistake I face as a student is
comparing myself to others
with a higher level
” (Interview). According to Merryanti et al. (2024), insecurity is the feeling of
uncertainty about one's abilities or a lack of self
-confidence. This often stems from negative past
experiences or constant com
parisons with others. In an educational setting, insecurity can
manifest as a lack of confidence in one's skills, feelings of inadequacy when performing tasks,

and excessive concern about others' opinions. Furthermore, ongoing pressure from family,

particu
larly from parents, can significantly impact a student's academic performance.
One specific form of insecurity in language learning is linguistic insecurity, which refers

to the anxiety or lack of confidence experienced by speakers and writers who feel their language

use does not conform to standard norms. As Daftari and Tavil (2017)
explain, this type of
insecurity is often linked to a negative self
-perception of one's speech or language variety. It tends
to arise when individuals compare their pronunciation and grammar to what is perceived as the

"correct" way of speaking, further r
einforcing feelings of self-doubt and discouragement.
The experiences and emotions of both students and teachers play a crucial role in shaping

the quality of learning, academic performance, and interpersonal relationships. Throughout the

learning process, students may face difficult experiences that influenc
e their emotional responses,
ultimately affecting their ability to progress. For instance, Steve shared a personal experience
; he
commented
, “An experience that affected my self-confidence was when I had a presentation, and
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1357
when it was time to present, I froze, which caused me to forget everything I had prepared in

advance”. These emotions can vary depending on the challenges encountered, such as struggling

with complex concepts or receiving criticism. Additionally, the inher
ent power imbalance in the
student
-teacher relationship can shape how students perceive and react to these emotional
experiences. Negative experiences, if not addressed constructively, may lead to feelings of

insecurity, discouragement, or fear of making m
istakes, all of which can hinder learning and
personal growth (Rowe & Fitness, 2018).

Torretti (1962) points out that the experience of sensory errors leads us to question our

understanding of what things truly are. This often stems from doubts about our ability to know,

which arise from the need to define the limits of knowledge. Steve, si
milarly, lacks confidence in
his abilities and frequently questions his knowledge, even asking, "What level of English do I

have?
” (Interview). This insecurity prevents him from trusting his abilities, limiting his personal
growth and development.

By observing the visual narrative
created by Steve, it’s easy to deduce that he feels
anxious and vulnerable. His wide eyes and open mouth suggest he’s overwhelmed, while his

defensive hand gesture and hunched posture indicate he wants to protect himself. His curled body

and lack of eye co
ntact add to the feeling of insecurity, as if he fears connecting with others. These
signs reflect someone struggling with fear and self
-doubt in a challenging situation.
Figure 2

Steve speaking in public

We can confirm the previously mentioned, as he displayed clear signs of insecurity and

fear during the observation stage. This was evident through his body language
he moved his
hands and feet excessively while presenting, hesitated on certain words, and e
xperienced
noticeable sweating in his hands just minutes before speaking in public. Steve mentioned, "The

strategy I use to overcome these feelings is breathing." Deep breaths helped him calm his nerves

and gave him a sense of control, allowing him to feel
more confident when facing the situation.
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1358
CONCLUSION
S
This study examined the relationship between pre
-service EFL teachers' self-confidence
and their language performance. Using a mixed
-method approach, surveys, classroom
observations, and interviews provided deeper insights into this dynamic. The findings i
ndicate
that self
-confidence significantly influences language learning, impacting not only speaking skills
but also listening, reading, and writing.

Students with higher self
-confidence demonstrated better fluency, pronunciation, and
engagement in oral tasks, while those with lower confidence experienced hesitation, fear of

mistakes, and avoidance of speaking activities. Similarly, confident students s
howed greater
comprehension in listening tasks, actively participated in reading exercises, and produced more

structured and accurate written work. In contrast, those with lower confidence struggled with

understanding spoken messages, avoided reading aloud
due to fear of evaluation, and displayed
limitations in writing fluency and grammatical accuracy. These findings suggest that self
-
confidence is a key factor in overall communicative competence, as it affects performance across

all four skills.

To address this issue, EFL educators should create a supportive learning environment that

fosters confidence in all language areas. Incorporating collaborative activities, constructive

feedback, and balanced practice of the four skills can help reduce anxi
ety and strengthen students’
confidence. This research highlights the need for teaching strategies that support student
s'
emotional well
-being, ultimately preparing future teachers to communicate effectively and help
their students develop language skills
with confidence and fluency.
This research, however, is subject to
one limitation. Participants might feel embarrassed
to identify themselves or admit to lacking self
-confidence. For this reason, for future studies, it is
recommended to do a longitudinal study to understand more in
-depth the self-confidence of
students and its influence on their learning process.
Vol. 12/ Núm. 1 2025 pág. 1359
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-Ghamdi, A. (2017). Building a Positive Environment in Classrooms through Feedback and
Praise
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https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1143458.pdf

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