Term
Summer 8-10-2015
Capstone
Thesis
Degree Name
MAESL
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Anne DeMuth
Secondary Advisor/Reader One
Michal Moskow
Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two
Chad Miller
Abstract
Despite increased access to higher education for female students in Ethiopia, gender inequality in universities persists. The present study investigates a group of sixty first-year female students in the natural science fields who were attending an Ethiopian university and who voluntarily participated in an English mentoring pilot program. This research uses a mixed methods approach with qualitative data from participants’ writing samples and quantitative data from grade point averages, English language proficiency (ELP) levels from the British Council’s International Language Assessment (ILA) placement exam, and academic confidence ratings from the Academic Behavioral Confidence (ABC) survey. Results show differences between groups based on academic status (dismissed, warning, or promoted). Findings indicate that twothirds of participants have an A2 ELP level using the Common European Framework scale. Writing samples suggest that participants perceive their own ELP levels are not sufficient and they would like to improve their English language skills.
Keywords
Female Ethiopian University Students, Academic Success
Recommended Citation
Miller, Jennifer Sue, "English language proficiency, academic confidence, and academic success: A case study of first-year female students at an Ethiopian university" (2015). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 193.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/193