Yabanci dil öğrencilerinin yabanci dil öğrenmeye ilişkin inançları üzerine irdeleyici bir durum çalışması

The purpose of this exploratory study is to explore Turkish prep school EFL learners' beliefs about language learning. It aims to investigate the relationship between learners' age, gender, and foreign language proficiency levels, and their beliefs about language learning. The study was conducted at Anadolu University School of Foreign Languages with the participation of 263 students. The data were collected using "Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI)" which was developed by Horwitz (1987), and translated into Turkish by Razı (2009). The statistical analyses of the results through SPSS indicated no statistically significant relationship between Turkish prep school EFL learners' age, gender, foreign language proficiency level, and their beliefs about language learning. Yet, close scrutiny of the relationship between learners' gender, age, and language proficiency level, and their beliefs about language learning have revealed subtle and intricate relationships. The results are discussed and theoretical, and pedagogical implications are offered. Keywords: Beliefs, language learning beliefs, age, gender, proficiency level