Examining the relationship Between prospective teachers' listening skills, reading habits, effective speech self-efficacy, writing dispositions and communication skills: A SEM approach

Abstract

Conceptually, although the effectiveness of communication is generally associated with the development of language skills, studies that model this relationship comprehensively are limited. Based on this, the current study examines the relationship between different linguistic variables(listening skills, attitude towards reading habits,speechself-efficacy, and writing disposition)andtheir own and communication skills. Thestudydata was collected from 566 prospective teachers in Turkey. As a result of the study, the theoretical structure between linguistic variables and communicationskills has been statistically proven. In the model, it was seen that the model-data fit was at a good level(χ²/df=4.46,CFI=.955, RMSEA=.078, SRMR=.033). The proposed model indicatesthat listening skillsaffect communication skills at a medium level andspeechself-efficacy at a high level. In addition,writing disposition affects communication skills indirectly through speechself-efficacy, and reading habitsaffect communication skills indirectly through both listening skills and speechself-efficacy.The highest relationship is between listening skillsand speechself-efficacy. Also, the relationships between all the variables are significant. The study supports existing hypotheses about the role language plays in communication skills.