Positive Psychology in SLA

Edited by Dr. Peter D. MacIntyre, Dr. Tammy Gregersen, Sarah Mercer

Publication date:

20 April 2016

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781783095353

Positive psychology is the scientific study of how human beings prosper and thrive. This is the first book in SLA dedicated to theories in positive psychology and their implications for language teaching, learning and communication. Chapters examine the characteristics of individuals, contexts and relationships that facilitate learning: positive emotional states such as love, enjoyment and flow, and character traits such as empathy, hardiness and perseverance. The contributors present several innovative teaching ideas to bring out these characteristics among learners. The collection thus blends new teaching techniques with cutting-edge theory and empirical research undertaken using qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches. It will be of interest to SLA researchers, graduate students, trainee and experienced teachers who wish to learn more about language learning psychology, individual differences, learner characteristics and new classroom practices.

1. Tammy Gregersen, Peter D. MacIntyre and Sarah Mercer: Introduction
2. Rebecca Oxford: Toward a Psychology of Well-Being for Language Learners: The “EMPATHICS” Vision
3. Sarah Mercer: Seeing the World Through Your Eyes: Empathy in Language Learning and Teaching
4. Joseph Falout: The Dynamics of Past Selves in Language Learning and Well-Being
5. Ana Maria Ferreira Barcelos and Hilda Simone H. Coelho: Language Learning and Teaching: What’s Love Got to Do with It?
6. Tammy Gregersen, Peter D. MacIntyre and Margarita Meza: Positive Psychology Exercises Build Social Capital for Language Learners: Preliminary Evidence
7. Phil Hiver: The Triumph over Experience: Hope and Hardiness in Novice L2 Teachers
8. Éva Czimmermann and Katalin Piniel: Advanced Language Learners’ Experiences of Flow in the Hungarian EFL Classroom
9. Jean-Marc Dewaele and Peter D. MacIntyre: Foreign Language Enjoyment and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety: The Right and Left Foot of the Language Learner
10. J. Lake: Accentuate the Positive: Conceptual and Empirical Development of the Positive L2 Self and its Relationship to L2 Proficiency
11. Zana Ibrahim: Affect in Directed Motivational Currents: Positive Emotionality in Long-Term L2 Engagement
12. R. Kirk Belnap, Jennifer Brown, Dan P. Dewey, Linnea P. Belnap and Patrick R. Steffen: Project Perseverance: Helping Students Become Self-Regulating Learners
13. Marc Helgesen: Happiness in ESL/EFL: Bringing Positive Psychology to the Classroom
14. Tim Murphey: Teaching to Learn and Well-Become: Many Mini-Renaissances
15. Candy Fresacher: Why and How to Use Positive Psychology Activities in the Second Language Classroom
16. M.C. Fonseca-Mora and F. Herrero Machancoses: Music and Language Learning: Emotions and Engaging Memory Pathways
17. Peter D. MacIntyre, Tammy Gregersen and Sarah Mercer: Conclusion

With a decidedly positive outlook on applied linguistics stemming from positive psychology, this volume piques the interest of teachers and researchers alike by shedding light on language learning and empowerment, happiness, resilience, melody, stress reduction and enjoyment as well as success. No wonder that this book is a joy to read!