Investigating EFL master learners’ beliefs about formal research and academic writing : the case of the department of English at M’sila University

Abstract EN

This paper reports on an investigation of EFL Master Learners’ Beliefs about formal research and academic writing, which remain partially unexplored in our learning institutions.

The survey instrument used in collecting data was adapted from‘Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory’ (Horwitz 1987).

Through the 24 items survey we have intended to identify learners’ beliefs about formal research and academic writing in order to provide some valuable information for syllabus designers and EFL practitioners about the links between learners’ aptitude, motivation and expectations at formal research and academic writing and their beliefs.

Moreover, the data provided insights on learners’ beliefs about the nature of formal research and academic writing and how to conduct it, the difficulties they often face and the strategies they used in order to overcome the hindrances while carrying out their research assignements.The results indicated that because of the difficulties faced and the relative failure of implemeting strategies, students’ motivation and expectations to better achieve at research remained low.

It was concluded that it is very indispensable for teachers to consider respondents’ reflections while teaching and monitoring