Can I teach these students? A case study of Vietnamese teachers’ self-efficacy in relation to teaching English as a foreign language

The study looked at factors that influenced the self-efficacy in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) of a group of university teachers in Vietnam. Previous studies yielded contradictory results regarding the sources of self-efficacy information. Very little empirical research on the potential role of cultural factors on self-efficacy and on teachers’ self-efficacy in EFL contexts has been done. Researchers disagree on whether participating in a new setting can enhance teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between Vietnamese teachers’ discourses of effective teaching practices and their self-efficacy beliefs, the influence of Vietnamese culture and context on teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, and whether participating in the research led to a change in the self-efficacy beliefs of the teacher participants and of myself as researcher. The research took the form of a qualitative case study. Participants were eight university teachers of the English language at a technical university in Vietnam. Data collection lasted six months. Data collection tools included focus group discussions, individual interviews, journaling, and observations. An inductive coding process and thematic analysis were used for analysing data. Findings indicate that social persuasion was the most influential source of self-efficacy information. The study shows that different sources of self-efficacy information interacted with one another to influence the two dimensions of self-efficacy. Besides, it appears that teachers’ understanding of a number of environment and workplace factors appeared to constrain some teachers into adopting the Grammar Translation Method (GTM) approach and possibly reduced their self-efficacy in adapting a Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)-oriented approach. After participating in the study, the teaching approaches of study teachers and my own approaches seemed to be more CLT-oriented although most of us were characterised by a low sense of self-efficacy in adapting this approach in the Vietnamese classrooms. I also developed an enhanced sense of self-efficacy in doing the thesis. Findings suggest that several aspects of Vietnamese culture, e.g. the concept of face, are likely to have influenced the way the study teachers selected, weighted and interpreted efficacy-building information. There were certain features of context, e.g. the state of leadership practices, which may have affected what constituted sources of self-efficacy information and how they operated. In addition, it is plausible that changes in context, e.g. teaching different kinds of students, led to a change in the way the teachers and I weighed and selected self-efficacy information. Self-reflection, self-doubt and self-regulation were other factors causing fluctuations in the study teachers’ and my self-efficacy. My study contributes to a widening understanding of how different aspects of culture can impact on self-efficacy. It provides examples to challenge the claim that the self-efficacy of experienced teachers is stable and the widespread view that a negative sense of self-efficacy induces individuals to give up and make less effort. The study shows the relationship between teacher self-efficacy beliefs and their discourses of EFL instruction, i.e. their self-efficacy in using different aspects of a communicative approach fluctuated at different stages of the study. The study points to the need to improve leadership practice and teaching conditions at the faculty and university. Preparing teachers for regulation strategies, encouraging them to work collectively, and offering more professional development programs are likely to develop a stronger sense of self-efficacy among teachers. It would be useful if future research could focus more on classroom observations to avoid the reliance on self-report data. More studies on the influence of culture on teacher self-efficacy with an inclusion of scales to measure different cultural factors are needed. Longitudinal studies are desirable in understanding changes in teacher self-efficacy under the influence of context

The Policy for the development of Vietnamese goods

This thesis evaluates the orientations and solutions to develop the domestic market for Vietnamese brand goods and helping Vietnamese enterprises and local consumers in the process of participating in the market, through the system of legal documents, organizational apparatus and operating procedures. From there, find the advantages and especially the limitations that need to be improved. For Vietnamese goods to have a firm foothold in the domestic market, to conquer Vietnamese consumers, the Government should orientate and direct the implementation of tasks and solutions to raise the competitiveness of Vietnamese manufacturers to market products and services of high quality and competitiveness. Therefore, to find out remedial measures to improve the performance of state management agencies. In addition to studying the government's regulations on promoting the development of domestically produced goods, supporting the development of the domestic market, the thesis also considers the development of domestic trade of some other countries, compare to draw lessons for the development of domestic market in Vietnam. Besides, the thesis also conducts research on two categories of milk and leather shoes on the development of the domestic market. From that, combine the results to propose solutions suitable to current and future domestic market characteristics in order to promote the development of the domestic market for Vietnamese goods. The results of this study can be applied to improve the productivity, quality and competitiveness of manufactured goods in Vietnam. However, in the context of the thesis, it is not possible to provide more specific and detailed solutions to the problems found. In order to quickly and easily apply research results to the development of the local market for manufactured goods in Vietnam, further research is needed on a broader scale

Student - teachers’ self-assessment of their autonomy

The pilot study presented aims at investigating how student- teachers self-assessed the influence of the portfolio on their autonomy. About 120 student-teachers participated in the portfolio, but only 94 took part in self-assessing their autonomy at the end of the testing and assessment approaches/methods course. The questionnaire of 30 items covering five subthemes like self-awareness, subject matter awareness, testing process awareness, independence of learning and study habits was used as a tool for self-assessment and instrument to collect data. The data were collected after the students submitted their portfolio. The findings indicate that although student-teachers did not highly evaluate the ways the portfolio helped them to become autonomous and their independence of learning, they were very positive in the portfolio process (the mean scores are ranged from 2.8 to 3.8 out of 5). Some suggestions for further research and the application of the portfolio are recommended at the end of this article

The Impact of Public Government on the Relationship Between Consumer Confidence and Stock Market Index: A Study

Purpose:  The article aims to study the impact of public governance on the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market index.   Theoretical framework: The concept of consumer confidence index: According to consumer confidence, and stock market index is a way to measure expected changes in income. Katona also argues that consumer trust includes emotional and intellectual factors.   Design/methodology/approach: Data is collected from 2012 to 2021 from 10 middle-income countries. The public governance variable is measured by 6 component variables, including (1) Voice and accountability, (2) Political stability, (3) Government efficiency, (4) Regulatory quality, (5) the rule of law, and (6) Control of corruption. Consumer confidence is measured by the consumer confidence index (CCI) and the stock market index (SMI). The authors use P. VAR model to solve the set goal.   Findings: The research results show that public governance positively affects the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market price index in high-middle-income countries. In contrast, public administration does not influence the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market index in low-income countries.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Based on the research results, the authors propose policy implications for middle-income countries for investors' confidence and investment activities on the stock market, contributing to boosting capital in the future more efficient circular economy.   Originality/value: Government must increase its accountability to the people and investors for all activities and decisions of the Government. Creating a stable political environment, prioritizing dispute settlement by peaceful negotiations

The effect of the instructor’s feedback strategies on the improvement of students’ short essay writing skills

The study interpreted in this article investigated the effect of the instructor’s feedback strategies on the improvement of students’ writing skills, especially their ability to eliminate irrelevant sentences and to avoid awkward structures. A review of the related literature including the role of teacher’s feedback in the process writing approach; principles and conditions of good feedback practice; forms and types of feedback; and previous research evidence on the benefits of feedback provides the theoretical base for this study in which 48 English sophomores participated. The collected data consisted of 48 comparison and contrast compositions submitted in the 12th week of the 1st semester and 39 questionnaire surveys completed on the final day of the class meeting. After marking these compositions it was found that the number of the two typical errors (irrelevant sentences and awkward structures) was significantly reduced in comparison with the previous ones. This is also in line with the positive result of the survey on the students’ evaluation of feedback strategies. However, some limitations are inevitable, so recommendations for further studies on this issue can be found at the end of this article

Reflective practice in English language teacher training: From theory to practice

The main aim of the study presented in this article is examining what teacher-trainees could learn from the reflective practice task after their teaching performance in the English Teaching Practice Course. Participants of this study were teacher-trainees (or senior students majoring in English language teaching) in the first semester of academic year 2018-2019. Each trainee had his/her lesson recorded when s/he was conducting an English lesson in front of his/her peers. Then each watched the lesson and found some strengths and weaknesses in this lesson and submitted this task to the trainer. The findings from this reflective task indicated that trainees could recognize not only their errors in using classroom English but also four main weaknesses in their teaching skills. Moreover, the findings from the questionnaire after the course ended reveal that these trainees classified their errors into seven groups and suggested solutions to overcome such problems. Some limitations and recommendations for further study on reflection can be seen at the end of this article

Strategic Management Accounting Application - Some Discussions for the Tourism Business

This chapter will introduce strategic management accounting (SMA), a modern analysis and forecasting tool that supports managers in making strategic management decisions to help businesses increase their performance in both financial and non-financial. By reviewing the literature and my empirical study about factors affecting SMA application in the tourism business, this chapter aims to help managers who work in the tourism business with some references and recommendations to decide on applying strategic management accounting, particularly SMA techniques. Following objectives of this chapter: - Understand strategic management accounting and strategic management accounting techniques - Understand the role of strategic management accounting in enterprises - Some propose applying SMA techniques in enterprises, specifically tourism businesses

Digital Transformation of the Banking Industry in Developing Countries

Purpose:  The study's objective is to test the impact of digital transactions on banking performance. Based on the previous research and the actual situations, it has been recognized that the critical role of digital banking is in developing the banking industry, especially in developing countries.   Theoretical framework:  In the next section, the study presents background information to promote the research. The digital transformation has changed how customers use financial services. This has pushed banks to adapt more quickly to the wave of digital transformation if they don't want to lose their valuable customer base.   Design/methodology/approach:  the methodology applied uses POOL, FEM, REM, and FGLS models to examine the impact of banking transactions made by digital technology on the bank's deposit and lending revenue. This article studies banking operations on digital platforms from 2012 to 2019 in developing countries.   Findings: The article's findings showed that digital banks' flexible products and services bring many benefits with a high level of interaction, such as supporting the relationship between customers and banks and improving operating revenue.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Practical implications enhanced the development potential of digital banking is relatively large, stemming from the market demand development orientation of the banking industry.   Originality/value: The paper's originality and value help banks invest in digital technology as the way forward to better serve their customers