Motivation, Self-efficacy, and International Students’ Academic Performance

Abstract

This project explored how international students’ learning motivations and self-efficacy can affect their academic performance when studying abroad via a systematic literature review approach. It specifically explored two sets of relationships by outlining the key concepts and theories that predict such relationships, discussing the specialities of these concepts and theories with regard to the research target, international students, and summarising and comparing the findings of empirical studies in specific contexts.

The project specifically reveals that international students’ motivations can be enhanced by their clear goals to study abroad and undermined by their sociocultural adaptation to the learning environments. Their self-efficacy beliefs can also be damaged by their language difficulties and adaptation problems. Despite some inconsistencies in empirical research findings, international students’ intrinsic motivations and self-efficacy beliefs can both positively enhance their academic performances.

Based on these findings, teachers are suggested to offer adequate social support for international students by providing student counselling services, promoting an inclusive culture, and supporting the construction of international student communities. These methods will assist international students’ cultural and academic adaptation and enhance their academic motivations and self-efficacy beliefs. The teachers are also suggested to differentiate teaching approaches in response to the specific needs of international students and facilitate students’ self-efficacy development through affirmative recognition.