Positive Psychology in SLA

Published by Multilingual Matters 2016

Positive Psychology in SLA

Edited by: Peter D. MacIntyre , Tammy Gregersen and Sarah Mercer

In the series Second Language Acquisition

https://doi.org/10.21832/9781783095360

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book explores 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 and present several new teaching ideas to develop and support them.

Author / Editor information

MacIntyre Peter D. :

Peter D. MacIntyre is Professor of Psychology at Cape Breton University, Canada. He has published widely on the themes of emotion, motivation and cognition and is the co-editor (with Zoltán Dörnyei and Alastair Henry) of Motivational Dynamics in Language Learning (2014).

Gregersen Tammy :

Tammy Gregersen is Professor of TESOL at the University of Northern Iowa, USA. Her research interests include language teacher education, individual differences, positive psychology, nonverbal communication, emotion and affect. She is the co-author (with Peter D. MacIntyre) of Capitalizing on Language Learners' Individuality (2014) and co-editor (with Peter D. MacIntyre and Sarah Mercer) of Positive Psychology in SLA (2016).

Mercer Sarah :

Sarah Mercer is the Head of the ELT Research and Methodology section at the University of Graz, Austria. She is interested in all aspects of language learning psychology, in particular self-related constructs, motivation, affect, agency, mindsets and belief systems. She is co-editor of Positive Psychology in SLA (with Peter MacIntyre and Tammy Gregersen) and Multiple Perspectives of the Self in SLA (with Marion Williams).

Peter D. MacIntyre is Professor of Psychology at Cape Breton University, Canada. His research examines emotion, motivation and cognition across a variety of types of behavior, including interpersonal communication, public speaking and learning.

Tammy Gregersen is Professor of TESOL at the University of Northern Iowa, USA. She studies emotion and affect as it relates to second language learning, methodology and nonverbal communication.

Sarah Mercer is Professor of Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research interests include all aspects of the psychology surrounding the foreign language learning experience, focusing in particular on self.

Reviews

Jose Ignacio Aguilar Río, Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3 University, France:

MacIntyre et al.’s edited volume is a thorough work on the application of positive psychological principles on applied linguistics and language learning endeavours. The theories reviewed, the data analysed and the practices presented, will certainly appeal to scholars, curriculum developers, language teaching practitioners, teachers’ educators and pre-service language teachers. The volume is accessible and reads quite easily.

Danuta Gabryś-Barker University of Silesia, Poland:

The book defends itself as a worthy source of knowledge on the theory, research and practice of positive psychology in specific areas of foreign language teaching and learning. I fully endorse and recommend the volume for its expertise and scholarly discipline on the one hand and for the excitement and creativity it encourages on the other.

Second language learning is a new area for Positive Psychology and these authors have found that it is a surprising and remarkable aide.

This book is about the dynamics of happiness in language learning, the ripples that interact with other ripples, not necessarily in unison, but providing a goal and resources for processes of development. The contributions aim to show the positive sides of language teaching and learning without ignoring or denying the negative ones. They strive to reach a balance that allows for human agency to frame existences and hopes. The authors aim to move beyond the ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ level by using carefully defined concepts and rigorous methodology.

This volume offers a refreshing perspective on the process of learning and teaching new languages, highlighting the diverse ways in which learners and teachers draw on the many positive aspects of the human condition in their development as users of a non-native language. Without understating the difficulties that trouble language learning, this book provides a well-grounded basis for future studies using theoretical perspectives from positive psychology, and inspires teaching practices that recognize the human potential to thrive and grow.

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!

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
1 Introduction Tammy Gregersen, Peter D. MacIntyre and Sarah Mercer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Toward a Psychology of Well- Being for Language Learners: The ‘EMPATHICS’ Vision Rebecca L. Oxford Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	10
Part 1: Theoretical
3 Seeing the World Through Your Eyes: Empathy in Language Learning and Teaching Sarah Mercer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
4 The Dynamics of Past Selves in Language Learning and Well-Being Joseph Falout Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	112
5 Language Learning and Teaching: What’s Love Got To Do With It? Ana Maria F. Barcelos and Hilda Simone H. Coelho Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	130
Part 2 Empirical
6 Positive Psychology Exercises Build Social Capital for Language Learners: Preliminary Evidence Tammy Gregersen, Peter D. MacIntyre and Margarita Meza Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
7 The Triumph Over Experience: Hope and Hardiness in Novice L2 Teachers Phil Hiver Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	168
8 Advanced Language Learners’ Experiences of Flow in the Hungarian EFL Classroom Éva Czimmermann and Katalin Piniel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	193
9 Foreign Language Enjoyment and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety: The Right and Left Feet of the Language Learner Jean-Marc Dewaele and Peter D. MacIntyre Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	215
10 Accentuate the Positive: Conceptual and Empirical Development of the Positive L2 Self and Its Relationship to L2 Proficiency J. Lake Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	237
11 Affect in Directed Motivational Currents: Positive Emotionality in Long-Term L2 Engagement Zana Ibrahim Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	258
12 Project Perseverance: Helping Students Become Self-Regulating Learners R. Kirk Belnap, Jennifer Bown, Dan P. Dewey, Linnea P. Belnap and Patrick R. Steffen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	282
Part 3 Applied
13 Happiness in ESL/EFL: Bringing Positive Psychology to the Classroom Marc Helgesen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	305
14 Teaching to Learn and Well-Become: Many Mini- Renaissances Tim Murphey Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	324
15 Why and How to Use Positive Psychology Activities in the Second Language Classroom Candy Fresacher Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	344
16 Music and Language Learning: Emotions and Engaging Memory Pathways M. Carmen Fonseca-Mora and Francisco Herrero Machancoses Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	359
17 Conclusion Peter D. MacIntyre, Tammy Gregersen and Sarah Mercer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	374
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	380