Self-efficacy, Speaking Confidence and Use of web 2.0 Tools for English Learning: A Structural Equation Model

The public health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic caused schools to adapt their syllabuses and move to an online mode of instruction. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyze, by means of structural equation models, the effect of English learning self-efficacy on speaking self-confidence, and the effect of self-confidence on the use of web 2.0 tools in English online learning. The study had a non-experimental, ex post facto quantitative design of explanatory, and cross-sectional nature with a sample of 861 university students. The English Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Confidence in Speaking English as a Foreign Language Questionnaire, and The Attitude Questionnaire for the web 2.0 tools were administrated to collect the data. The model showed that speaking self-efficacy exerts a positive influence on self-confidence. Listening self-efficacy revealed a moderately positive influence on self-confidence. The latter fact impacts the use of web 2.0 tools in a moderately positive way for the development of communicative skills. It was then concluded that those students who believe in their own capabilities (self-efficacy) and who rely on their acquired skills (selfconfidence) could have better academic results and could develop L2 linguistic skills through the use of web 2.0 tools.