Category: Psychology of the learner
A Comparative Study of Motivations in the Learning of East Asian Languages
Understanding learner motivations for studying a foreign language has long been recognized as an important factor in providing effective language instruction. In recent years, foreign language education has been devalued in higher education in the U.S., resulting in the removal of foreign language requirements or reduction of course offerings. In this context, understanding learner motivations …
An Exploration of English Language Learners’ Emotions and Beliefs: Insights From Self-reported Experiences and Observed Classroom Practices
Due to the ‘emotional turn’ (Pavlenko, 2013) in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) – and particularly thanks to the advent of Positive Psychology – closer attention has been devoted to the role that emotions and related processes such as (self-)beliefs play in foreign/second language learning. This presentation is based on my doctoral dissertation, …
Success in an English Language Learning Class: Students’ Beliefs, Emotions and Experiences in a Communicative Language Teaching Context
The aim of this paper is to analyse the beliefs, emotions and experiences of English language learners in order to grasp the aspects that they regard as positive in an English language classroom. The participants are first-year university students enrolled in an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course that were inquired about (1) their life-long …
British Students’ Identity Transition in Learning Chinese as a Foreign Language
Chinese has become an increasingly significant language in the global language market over the last 20 years. China’s increasing power economically has encouraged the development of Chinese Language Learning (CLL) and it is increasingly being seen as a strategic learning decision. This research focuses on investigating key identity transitions for a small number of British …
Introducing Gamification to Increase Student Motivation and Engagement
Gamification is a term that has been used in education recently. According to Kapp (2014), gamification is the application of game design elements to a nongame context to increase student engagement and learning. Students in a university Intensive English Program often find the transition from school to university challenging. To encourage students to “demonstrate behavior …
Investigating Teachers Beliefs in Developing Learners’ Autonomy in an EFL Classroom
The concept of learner autonomy and the focus on learner reflection and taking responsibility of their own learning process has received broad international attention in the last three decades. Both scholars and practitioners discussed learner autonomy as a controversial concept in teaching nowadays. The aim of this study is to explore teachers’ beliefs about learner …
Understanding and Characterising a Context-based EFL Learner Autonomy in Algerian Higher Education
The study explores beliefs and practices that Algerian EFL students attribute to autonomous learning. Moreover, it attempts to identify then investigates the underlying factors behind those beliefs and practices. These factors are traced in the literature to be “institutional, societal, cultural and economic” (Begum and Chowdhury, 2016; Kemala, 2017; Palfreyman and Smith, 2003; Jiang, 2008). …
Foreign Language Anxiety in e-Tandem Learners: Is it Predictable?
Learning a foreign language (FL) is a challenging path, and speaking interaction with native speakers of the target language (TL) is perceived as a threatening event for many students. Nevertheless, the use of telecollaborative practices, such as e-Tandem, is considered to have an anxiety-reducing effect on learners over time (Appel and Gilabert, 2002). The present …
The Factors of Compassion Fatigue among Guidance Counselors
The research was about the compassion fatigue and its contributing factors among ninety-two (92) guidance counselors. This study aimed to explore variables which were factors of compassion fatigue analyzing work-related factors, personality traits, and demographic factors utilizing the following instruments: Professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOLs), NEO PI-R, and Demographic questionnaire. The study focused on …
An Investigation of Possible Relationships Between Parent and Child Motivation Towards Foreign Language Learning in UK Secondary Schools
The decline in foreign language learning in UK secondary schools is well-researched, particularly from the point of view of language attitudes and motivation. The rationale for my research comes from my own personal experience of interacting with parents and their children during parent-teacher meetings and open days. Many parents openly say in front of their …
How to Apply Learner Autonomy and Self-Assessment Method to Promote Test Takers’ Learning: A Case Study of SAT Test Preparation
In the fields of pedagogy and language assessment, self-assessment has been regarded as an effective teaching and learning method. This method can promote learning in a positive way, and have positive washback on learning, particularly for students who are preparing for high-stake tests. Also, Learner Autonomy has long been accepted as a useful method for …
Understanding Demotivation Factors and Their Countermeasures in Japanese Student Learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
Motivation is one of the keys to successful language learning (Nakata and Okumura, 1999). Accordingly, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Japan exhaust their resources – devising and employing a variety of strategies and materials to encourage Japanese students and keep them motivated. However, in spite of these efforts, problems regarding decreased motivation …