Practitioners respond to Sarah Mercer's ‘Psychology for language learning: Spare a thought for the teacher’

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Robert Wood
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
Teaching Process ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Compelling Argument ◽  
Considerable Research

Mercer (2018) makes a compelling argument for the urgent need to further research teacher psychology, focussing on language teachers. While there has been considerable research on language learner psychology and with considerable focus on individual differences (IDs), there have been comparatively few studies into language teacher psychology. Mercer (2018, p. 506) highlights that teachers are among the most important stake holders in the language learning and teaching process. Therefore, it is essential to understand the psychology of both learners and teachers to achieve the best learning outcomes.

LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION. Jon Roberts. London: Arnold, 1998. Pp. viii + 346. $70.00 cloth, $19.95 paper.

2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 600-601
Author(s):  
Manel Lacorte
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Classroom Context ◽  
Language Teacher Education ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Dimensions Of Learning ◽  
Constructivist Perspective

This volume is a valuable contribution to the field of language teacher education (LTE) because of its innovative approach to language learning and teaching as well as its consistent organization. As noted in the introduction, the book is intended for language teachers “who will make, or have made, the step from teaching to training” (p. 1). To this end, the author relates the teachers' experience and understanding of the classroom context to a broadly social constructivist perspective, based on the relevance of the personal and social dimensions of learning to teach.

scholarly journals Umiejętność uczenia się jako jedna z kompetencji kluczowych – perspektywa nauczycieli języków obcych

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariola Jaworska
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
European Policy ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Teaching Process ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Holistic Perception ◽  
Learning Competencies

The article discusses the ability to learn as a key competence analysed in the context of the implementation of the assumption of the European policy and Polish regulations in this regard by foreign language teachers. The study contains results of poll research aimed at verifying the opinions and attitudes of respondents related to their influence on the language learning competencies of their students. Results show that although the definite majority of teachers find this aspect to be important and declare that they take it into account when planning and organising classes, their knowledge on the matter is not structured and rather fragmentary. Few responses of research subjects indicate a holistic perception of the matter and conscious organisation of the learning and teaching process in this regard.

Exploring Emotions in Language Teaching

RELC Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 003368822092753
Author(s):  
Jack C. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Affective Dimensions

Emotions are an important part of the experiences of both language teachers and language learners, however their role has often been marginalized as a result of the focus on cognitive rather than affective dimensions of language learning within the discipline of Second Language Acquisition. The ‘affective turn’ in applied linguistics has refocussed on how teachers’ and learners’ emotions influence how they manage teaching and learning. This survey article explores the kinds of emotions teachers and learners experience, the causes of these emotions, and the impact they can have on teaching and learning. Theory and research is reviewed relating to emotions and the teacher, emotions and the language learner, and emotions in teacher development. Suggestions are given as to how teachers and learners can develop emotional competence, that is, the ability to understand and productively manage emotions in language learning and teaching.

An Interview with Sarah Mercer on Language Learner and Teacher Well-Being

Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 459-463
Author(s):  
Sam Morris ◽  
Sarah Mercer
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
New Directions ◽  
The University

In our June 2019 LAB session on Teacher/Advisor Education for Learner Autonomy, our featured interview was conducted with Sarah Mercer, Professor of Foreign Language Teaching and Head of ELT at the University of Graz, Austria. Sarah has published a wealth of papers in the field of language and teacher psychology, and co-edited many books including, most recently, New Directions in Language Learning Psychology (2016), Positive Psychology in SLA (2016), and Language Teacher Psychology (2018). Sarah was awarded the 2018 Robert C. Gardner Award for Outstanding Research in Bilingualism in recognition of her work. We were delighted that she was able to share her knowledge on the topic of language learner and teacher well-being with us during the session.

scholarly journals Teacher education

2003 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-278
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
University Of Oxford ◽  
Ann Arbor ◽  
Language And Education

04–644 Donaghue, H. (Shajah Women's College, UAE). An instrument to elicit teachers’ beliefs and assumptions. ELT Journal (Oxford, UK), 57, 4 (2003), 344–351.04–645 Heller-Murphy, Anne and Northcott, Joy (U. of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK). “Who does she think she is?” constraints on autonomy in language teacher education. Edinburgh Working Papers in Applied Linguistics (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK), 12 (2003), 10–18.04–646 LeLoup, J. W. (State U. of New-York-Cortland) and Schmidt-Rinchart, B. A Venezuelan experience: professional development for teachers, meaningful activities for students. Hispania (Ann Arbor, USA), 86, 3 (2003), 586–591.04–647 Macaro, E. (University of Oxford; Email: [email protected]) Second language teachers as second language classroom researchers. Language Learning Journal (Rugby, UK), 27 (2003), 43–51.04–648 Murphy, J. (New College, Nottingham). Task-based learning: the interaction between tasks and learners. ELT Journal (Oxford, UK), 57, 4 (2003), 352–360.04–649 Urmston, Alan (Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, Hong Kong; Email: [email protected]). Learning to teach English in Hong Kong: the opinions of teachers in training. Language and Education (Clevedon, UK), 17, 2 (2003), 112–137.04–650 Wharton, Sue (University of Aston, UK; Email: [email protected]). Defining appropriate criteria for the assessment of master's level TESOL assignments. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education (London, UK), 28, 6 (2003), 649–663.04–651 Wildsmith-Cromarty, Rosemary (University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Email: [email protected]). Mutual apprenticeship in the learning and teaching of an additional language. Language and Education (Clevedon, UK), 17, 2 (2003), 138–154.

scholarly journals Case Study of the Commercially Published ELT materials in Foundation of English Course Books 1 & 2

IIUC Studies ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 173-182
Author(s):  
Md Yousuf Uddin Khaled Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Global Markets ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
The Right

Brumfit (1979) has suggested that many commercially published ELT materials are little more than ‘masses of rubbish, skilfully marketed’. He perhaps rejects most of the published materials. However, in reality, it is observed that these ELT resources are the only available alternatives in the contexts where infra-structural limitations of language classrooms and the inefficiency of the language-teachers make the goal of language learning and teaching unreachable or unattainable for many of the learners. This paper, through a case study, aims at justifying the use of commercially published ELT coursebooks that are designed and used, considering the limitations and problems of the personally produced materials by untrained teachers. Nevertheless, these materials must consider the local market rather than the global markets so that they meet the needs of the local language learners and instructors. The case study implies that it is the selection or adaptation of the right materials for the specific learners that makes them effective or ineffective. It also suggests that the personally designed or locally produced materials too may make teaching and learning difficult and impossible sometimes.IIUC Studies Vol.10 & 11 December 2014: 173-182

scholarly journals Idiomaticity as a Language Learning Barrier: The EFL Context of Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Abdalla Elkheir Elgobshawi
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
The Social ◽  
Idiomatic Expressions ◽  
Efl College Students ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of Idiomaticity on language learning and the extent to which it can be a language learning barrier. It contrasts the perspective of language teachers and the attitude of language learners regarding how idioms can influence language learning. The theoretical framework provides a description of the general properties of English idiomatic expressions and shows the relevance of idiomaticity to linguistic theory. The paper is based on an analytical analysis and follows a quantitative approach in which two questionnaires are used to collect the data. The two questionnaires are administered to two independent samples: 20 participants representing ELT teachers at the tertiary level and 80 subjects representing Saudi EFL college students. The data are then analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The study reveals learners’ reasonable consensus on the issues assessed. They generally acknowledge the significance of idioms for language learning but with a general dissatisfaction with their status in learning and teaching contexts. Both teachers and learners view idioms as odd pieces of language that lack a uniform character and do not receive due attention in language syllabi and curricula. Teachers give different ratings on the pedagogical value of idioms, but they generally show low interest in teaching them.

Language Teachers as Materials Developers

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822110616
Author(s):  
Jiao Li ◽  
Xuesong (Andy) Gao ◽  
Xuehai Cui
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Teaching Materials ◽  
Materials Development ◽  
Materials Analysis ◽  
Learning And Teaching

This report reviews studies on language teachers as materials developers in language education, particularly focusing on how language teachers act as materials users, materials analysts, and materials designers when engaging with language learning and teaching materials. We contend that the three dimensions of materials development – that is, materials use, materials analysis, and materials design – intersect with one another, and that language teachers play a critical role in all three. Therefore, this review concludes with a research agenda that centres on language teachers as materials developers to expand our understanding of their roles in materials development.

Methodology and Research

2020 ◽  
pp. 117-121
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Teaching Process ◽  
Teaching Language ◽  
Depth Interviews

This chapter will give insight to used methodology and analysis for interpretation of conducted in-depth interviews with language teachers in primary and secondary schools in Croatia. This research is a case study about perceptions, attitudes, emotions, knowledge, and suggestions about use and implementation of computer corpora in teaching language learning in primary and secondary schools. In-depth interviews were conducted with four teachers who explore their existing knowledge about corpus linguistics and computer corpora. The research is based on language teachers' thoughts and experiences of how computer corpora can be incorporated into the teaching process of language learning. Results are implications (e.g., advantages and obstacles) for inclusion of corpus-based teaching in primary and secondary schools.

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