Are Emotionally Intelligent EFL Teachers More Satisfied Professionally?

Abstract

Despite the fact that Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is an important factor in one's success in terms of working environment, it is believed that emotional quotient or EQ plays a more important role. With that in mind, this study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction of English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers who work at private language institutes in Iran/Shiraz. Furthermore, this study tried to answer whether there is a significant difference between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction of Iranian's EFL teachers in terms of gender. A 90-item BarOn questionnaire was used to measure the teachers' emotional intelligence; also, a modified version of Karavas's (2010) job satisfaction scale was used to see how satisfied our teachers are with their teaching career. To answer the research question, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient statistical test was run. The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction of EFL teachers in Iran/Shiraz. Furthermore, the results revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in emotional intelligence between EFL male and female teachers, but there was no statistically significant relationship between Iranian EFL teachers' job satisfaction in terms of gender. Based on our findings, it is suggested that some preparatory courses aiming at enhancing the important psychological traits such as emotional intelligence should be incorporated in educational programs designed for novice teachers so that it will contribute to pedagogical improvement.

Iranian EFL Teachers' Emotional Intelligence and their Use of Speaking Strategies

“…The findings of the study are consistent with Ghanizadeh and Moafian (2010), and Vaezi and Fallah (2011) studies, where they found significant differences in teachers' EI across years of teaching experience. The result of the current study is in line with Hekmatzadeh, Khojasteh and Shokrpour (2016), where they reported significant differences in teachers' EI across gender.…”

June

“…The result of the current study is in line with Hekmatzadeh, Khojasteh and Shokrpour (2016), where they reported significant differences in teachers' EI across gender.…”

Investigation of the Life Satisfaction Levels of Turkish EFL Teachers in Terms of Several Variables

“…For example, Karavas (2010) found in her study conducted with Greek EFL teachers that the job satisfaction levels of male teachers were higher than those of women, which may be a sign about their life satisfaction levels as well. On the other hand, in their study, Hekmatzadeh, Khojasteh and Shokrpour (2016) found significant differences between the professional satisfaction levels of female and male teachers. According to the results of the present study, the reason why the life satisfaction levels of female teachers were found to be high might be that the teaching profession is preferred by women more, and teaching is suited to women more in society.…”