Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics

en Iranian English Majors’ L2 Writing Self-efficacy: Exploring the Effects of Gender, Level of Education, and Teaching Experience Iranian English Majors’ L2 Writing Self-efficacy: Exploring the Effects of Gender, Level of Education, and Teaching Experience تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The current study explored the status quo of L2 writing self-efficacy among Iranian English majors in light of their gender, level of education, and teaching experience.  To this end, 193 learners who were students or graduates of English literature or translation at BA, MA and PhD levels and who ranged in age between 19 to 40 participated in this study. Data were collected using the Second Language Writer Self-Efficacy Scale that measures L2 learners’ linguistic self-efficacy, course performance self-efficacy, and self-regulation efficacy. Analysis of the data revealed no significant difference between males and females in terms of L2 writing self-efficacy. A significant difference was, however, found among all the three academic degree levels with the PhD group showing the highest level of L2 writing self-efficacy and the BA group showing the lowest self-efficacy. We set out to also examine whether experience in teaching English influences L2 writing efficacy. Our analyses revealed that the experienced teachers had a significantly higher L2 writing efficacy compared to the mid-experience teachers who were, in turn, less efficacious in L2 writing than low-experience participants. Implications of our findings for the writing courses and the what and how of writing instruction in the Iranian higher education curricula are discussed.</div> The current study explored the status quo of L2 writing self-efficacy among Iranian English majors in light of their gender, level of education, and teaching experience.  To this end, 193 learners who were students or graduates of English literature or translation at BA, MA and PhD levels and who ranged in age between 19 to 40 participated in this study. Data were collected using the Second Language Writer Self-Efficacy Scale that measures L2 learners’ linguistic self-efficacy, course performance self-efficacy, and self-regulation efficacy. Analysis of the data revealed no significant difference between males and females in terms of L2 writing self-efficacy. A significant difference was, however, found among all the three academic degree levels with the PhD group showing the highest level of L2 writing self-efficacy and the BA group showing the lowest self-efficacy. We set out to also examine whether experience in teaching English influences L2 writing efficacy. Our analyses revealed that the experienced teachers had a significantly higher L2 writing efficacy compared to the mid-experience teachers who were, in turn, less efficacious in L2 writing than low-experience participants. Implications of our findings for the writing courses and the what and how of writing instruction in the Iranian higher education curricula are discussed. L2 Writing, Education level, Teaching Experience, Writing Self-efficacy, Gender L2 Writing, Education level, Teaching Experience, Writing Self-efficacy, Gender 28 47 http://ijal.khu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1416-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohsen Shirazizadeh Mohsen Shirazizadeh m.shirazizadeh@alzahra.ac.ir 10031947532846002739 10031947532846002739 Yes Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran Somayeh Fathali Somayeh Fathali s.fathali@alzahra.ac.ir 10031947532846002740 10031947532846002740 No Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran Mahshid Kkamareh Mahshid Kkamareh mahshidk995.m8@gmail.com 10031947532846002741 10031947532846002741 No Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran