As predictors of academic success in EFL classrooms,self-regulation, self-esteem and attitude: A case study

The Psychology's recognition of individual differences has introduced many concepts. Among these concepts are self-esteem, self-regulation and attitude. These concepts, the importance of which has recently been recognized in education may also be among the determinants of foreign language learning. Hence, investigating three of them altogether can reveal important interrelationships which implicate vital clues for classroom practice. Setting out with this purpose, the study analyzed the relationships between self-esteem, self-regulation, attitude and foreign language achievement. With this aim, three hundred eighty three students at Gaziantep University Foreign Languages Higher School were chosen as the subjects of the study. The data was collected through a questionnaire. The participants? academic success was measured with the end of year average. So as to unveil relationship between the variables included in the study, Pearson Moment Correlation and Regression Analysis were used. According to the analysis results, there was a positive relationship between self-regulation and foreign language achievement (r= .319 p > .01), self-esteem and foreign language achievement (r= .404 p > .01), and attitude and foreign language achievement (r=.425 p > .01). When self-regulation, self-esteem and attitude came together, a statistically significant positive relationship with foreign language success was observed (r= .540 p > .01). Moreover, multiple regression analysis results illustrated that self-esteem, self-regulation and attitude accounted for 29 % of the academic success. While other variables of the study such as age, gender, graduated high school and proficiency levels have no effect on self-regulation, self-esteem and attitudes of the learners, only gender factor was to found to have impact upon attitudes of students. According to Levene?s test results, female participants exhibited more positive attitudes than their male counterparts did. Key words: Attitude, Foreign Language Achievement, Self-esteem, Self-regulation