A Journey of Self-Growth: Learning English and Preparing for Studying Abroad

Honglin Zhu
PSYCH341-Personality
25, Nov, 2024

Abstract

This paper describes the process of my self-growth in learning English and preparing for studying abroad.

With Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory as its core, I analyzed personal factors (such as self-efficacy and persistence), environmental factors (such as family support), and behavioral outcomes (such as successfully passing the TOEFL test) in the process.

This analysis reveals the importance of Triadic Reciprocal Causation in personal development. It also assesses the applicability of social cognitive theory and briefly compares its similarities and differences with other personality theories.

Introduction

Language learning and cross-cultural adaptation are often regarded as milestones in personal growth, and my experience of learning English and striving for overseas study is an example of such growth.

Although I started learning English at the age of 8, my level never reached the required level for studying abroad. It was not until I decided to pursue further education abroad that the shortcomings in my language ability became a real obstacle to overcome. This process was not just an improvement in language ability, but also a journey of learning and growth in self-efficacy and environmental interaction.

Through the lens of social cognitive theory, I hope to reveal the driving forces behind this journey and the practical value of the theory.

Description

After graduating from high school, I decided to further my education abroad. However, as a
non-native English speaker, although I had been studying English since I was 8 years old, my English proficiency was not sufficient to meet the requirements for studying abroad. My biggest challenge was passing the TOEFL exam and achieving the language requirements for BYUI (a minimum TOEFL score of 66). Initially, I lacked confidence in my abilities because the TOEFL exam not only tests four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) but also requires adapting to academic English expressions. Through two years of continuous effort, I finally achieved a score of 92, exceeding the basic language requirements for studying abroad.

Theoretical Analysis

1. Personal factors: self-efficacy and agency

Self-efficacy is one of the core concepts of Bandura's social cognition theory. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's confidence and expectation that they will be able to successfully perform a specific task. When I began to prepare for TOEFL, my self-efficacy was low, mainly due to mediocre English scores in the past and the strangeness of TOEFL. At the beginning, I was full of doubts about whether I could make any progress, especially in the listening and writing sections of the TOEFL. However, I gradually learned that by setting small goals and sticking to them, my self-efficacy gradually increased.

To improve my confidence, I set a goal of completing certain learning tasks every day, such as reciting 30 new words every day, and doing a TOEFL reading comprehension test. By accomplishing these small goals day after day, I gradually saw signs of progress in myself, and this progress further enhanced my sense of self-efficacy. At the same time, intrinsic motivation also plays a crucial role in the learning process. The goal of studying abroad is not from the pressure of parents or society, but from my strong interest in psychological research and my desire to explore. It's this inner motivation that keeps me going even when I'm frustrated.

Bandura believes that people with high self-efficacy are more likely to persevere in the face of difficulties and to believe that they can overcome them and ultimately achieve their goals. My test prep experience fits this theory perfectly. In the process of improving my self-efficacy, I came to realize that with hard work and the right approach to learning, I could make a breakthrough.

2. Environmental factors: learning by example and social support

In Bandura's theory of social cognition, environmental factors play a key role. Through learning by example and social support, individuals can gain valuable guidance from the experiences of others and enhance their sense of self-efficacy. The environmental factors in my learning process are mainly reflected in the support of my family and the influence of the role models around me.

First, the support of my family has played a very important role. Although my parents were not familiar with the specific content of TOEFL test, they always encouraged me and made unremitting efforts to support my dream of studying abroad. When I encountered difficulties, their care and encouragement kept me refreshed and kept my firm belief in my goals. Even when I was feeling down, they provided me with constant emotional support and moral encouragement, which helped me through many difficult moments.

Secondly, learning by example has also played a crucial role in my learning process. In preparing for the TOEFL, I connected with successful TOEFL test takers through social media and online platforms to ask for their experience and tips. The experiences and success stories of these high scoring students have convinced me that with the right approach and consistent hard work, I can overcome the language barrier and achieve my goals.

3. Behavior outcome: positive feedback and behavior reinforcement

After I completed the TOEFL test and got 92 points, I got positive feedback on my behavior
results. This not only helped me successfully apply for studying abroad, but also made me more confident in English communication. For example, when communicating with American friends, I used to be shy because of English accent and grammar errors.

However, with the improvement of TOEFL score, I began to take the initiative to participate in more English communication activities and gradually got rid of the language barrier.

Bandura's social cognitive theory emphasizes that behavioral outcomes (especially positive outcomes) can strengthen an individual's motivation to continue engaging in that behavior. During my study, the success of TOEFL not only enhanced my self-confidence, but also encouraged me to further improve my English.

For example, I continued to improve my language skills by participating in language exchange activities, reading English books and watching English movies. This kind of positive feedback and continuous behavior reinforcement keeps me moving forward on the road of English learning.

Comparison with other personality theories

1. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory:

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory explains my success in learning English from another perspective. Maslow believes that everyone's needs are hierarchical, from the simplest physiological needs to the development of high-level self-realization needs.

Only when my low- level needs, such as food and learning environment, are satisfied, will I pursue higher-level English learning needs. Bandura's social cognitive theory emphasizes the interaction among individuals, environment and behavior, especially the role of self-efficacy and role model learning. When we see the success of others, we will boost our own confidence and thus actively learn.

I think both theories can be used to explain my success in learning English, although Bandura emphasizes that external observational learning can increase our self-efficiency;

Maslow, on the other hand, believes that internal needs are the driving force for self- improvement. But anyway, both theories can play a role in my study.

2. The Big Five Personality Theory:

The Big Five theory predicts learning behavior by looking at an individual's five main personalities.

• openness
• conscientiousness
• extroversion
• agreeableness
• neuroticism

Among them, conscientiousness and openness can be used to explain my success in learning English. People with high openness have the spirit of adventure and can constantly explore in learning, thus achieving success in learning.

Moreover, the character of being open-minded may help me overcome many difficulties. On the other hand, people with high conscientiousness have high self-discipline and sense of responsibility, can effectively manage their time in study, make study plans, and seriously complete the homework that needs to be completed.

Combining the two theories, the effect of English learning is not only affected by the external environment and self-efficacy (Bandura theory), but also by the long-term effect of internal personality traits (Big Five personality theory). The former focuses on changes in self- energy efficiency, while the latter predicts learning outcomes through personality traits. The combination of the two can also make my study more successful.

Conclusion

By combining Bandura's social cognitive theory with Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory and the Big Five Personality theory, I can more fully understand my upbringing.

Social cognitive theory provided me with an important framework for self-efficacy and environmental interaction, while Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory helped me understand the need drivers in personal growth.

The Big Five Personality theory analyzes my behavior characteristics in the learning process through the personality dimension.
This multi-dimensional analysis reveals the complex psychological mechanism behind personal growth and provides valuable references for my future study and life. No matter what challenges I encounter, this experience will be a source of motivation for my continued growth.

From the perspective of social cognitive theory, I have a clearer understanding of the interaction between personal factors, environmental factors and behavioral results in personal growth. The experience of learning English and successfully passing TOEFL has not only improved my language ability, but also improved my self-efficacy, goal setting and behavior habits.

Through comparison with other personality theories, I further understand the relationship between personality, needs and behavior. This experience not only helped me successfully realize my dream of studying abroad, but also laid a solid foundation for my future academic research and career development. In the future, I will continue to apply these theories and experiences to continuously promote my personal growth and academic progress.