A Qualitative Study of Socio-Cultural and Linguistic Factors Affecting Iranian EFL Learners' Language Proficiency

Many factors may be involved in determining why some students are more and some are less proficient in language. This study tried to address the above issue by proposing a model encompassing 3 factors. For this purpose, a qualitative phase was run which aimed at exploring the sub-factors and factor(s) which are most influential in developing language proficiency. A semi-structured interview was run as the data collection instrument. The data obtained through transcribed interviews with 32 students studying English were analyzed through a grounded theory approach. Three categories of social, cultural and linguistic factors were devised, based on the literature and the qualitative results, which were believed to be effective in language proficiency. Using SEM procedures, the researcher was then able to develop a model. After analyzing the data, the obtained results seemed to be in line with Bourdieu’s (1986) idea that social factors are considered as the most dominant factors.