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.

THE ADVANTAGES OF PROMOTING LEARNERS’ AUTONOMY IN EFL CONTEXT

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hapsari Dwi Kartika
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Autonomous Learning ◽  
English Teaching ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Students Success

This paper explains why learner autonomy is taken into account in language learning where English is a foreign language for the learners particularly in Indonesia. The definition of learner autonomy and its advantages to language learner in EFL contexts will be described within this paper. Many scholars from psychological education and English teaching and learning had proved that language learning can be improved by certain strategy. They revealed the correlation between the autonomous learning with students’ success in learning with different aspect. The definition of autonomy is similar to many different words such as self-regulated and self-determined. Finally, the writer suggests how teacher can promote the autonomous learning atmosphere in the classroom.Keywords: strategy, promoting autonomy, EFL context, Indonesia

scholarly journals Incorporating theatre techniques in the language classroom

2015 ◽  
Vol IX (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Abigail Paul
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Augusto Boal ◽  
Second Language Learner ◽  
Improvisational Theatre ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Communicative Approach ◽  
The University

The following workshop was presented at a Foreign Language and Drama Conference at the University of Reutlingen on July 10, 2015. It outlines the use of improvisational theatre techniques in the foreign language classroom by making parallels between the communicative approach to language learning and improvisational theatre techniques learned in various books read and seminars attended by the author throughout the years in numerous cities, but predominantly with Second City Chicago1, iO Chicago2, Keith Johnstone, and Comedy Sportz3. As Friederike Klippel states, “activities are invented, but we rarely know who invented them. Like games or folk songs they are handed on from teacher to teacher” (Klippel 1985: 1). Similarly improvisational activities morph over time, with each teacher adding his or her own personal flair. The seminar is built predominantly on the games and philosophies as outlined by theatre practitioners Augusto Boal, Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone, but from the viewpoint of the author. While these activities can be used for a variety of purposes with native and non-native English speakers in a number of areas, the focus in the following is on the second language learner. The generally-accepted understanding of a communicative approach to language learning is that it focuses ...

scholarly journals Non-Verbal Communication: Why We Need It in Foreign Language Teaching and How We Can Foster It with Drama Activities

2014 ◽  
Vol VIII (2) ◽  
pp. 28-43
Author(s):  
Carola Surkamp
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Intercultural Encounters

Even though non-verbal communication is an essential part of communicative situations, it still is a neglected issue in foreign language teaching. This is quite surprising as no language learner can achieve communicative competence without having some knowledge of non-verbal phenomena, which make communication authentic and serve numerous functions needed for communicative success.Teaching a combination of verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication has positive effects on the language learning process in general and on the students’ willingness to communicate in particular. Furthermore, it is important for language learners to become aware of the role non-verbal communication plays in intercultural encounters. Additionally, the knowledge and awareness of the functions of non-verbal communication also help to develop literary competence since non-verbal phenomena contribute to a text’s meaning and its effect on the reader in both drama and prose.The objectives of this paper are to outline the nature and functions of non-verbal communication, to show why integrating non-verbal phenomena into different areas of FLT can be highly valuable, and to present drama activities that help sensitise students to non-verbal aspects of communication in various contexts.

Individualization of Foreign Language Teaching through Adaptive eLearning

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Kostolanyova ◽  
Stepanka Nedbalova
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The University

Lifelong learning has become an essential part of each profession. For this reason, personalized and adaptive learning has been drawing attention of professionals in the field of formal as well as informal education in the last few years. The effort has been made to design adaptive study supports regarding students' requirements, abilities and current knowledge. In the Czech Republic, particularly at the University of Ostrava, a team of educators, didactics professionals and IT professionals has been applying their mind to personalized learning in the electronic environment. They have been developing a suitable learning environment to fit students' learning styles. The paper describes a general model and a theory of adaptive eLearning from the perspective of the University of Ostrava professionals. It also demonstrates hard facts of the research in the field of language learning. This paper, Individualization of foreign language teaching through adaptive eLearning, is an extended version of the paper published in the ICWL 2015 workshop proceedings.

scholarly journals Autonomy in the transition from foreign language learning to foreign language teaching

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (spe) ◽  
pp. 421-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Benson ◽  
Jing Huang
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Foreign Language Education ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Teacher Autonomy ◽  
Professional Freedom ◽  
Learning Projects

This paper discusses the historical development of the concept of teacher autonomy in foreign language education and its relationship to the idea of learner autonomy. Three major phases in the development of conceptions of teacher autonomy are reviewed, involving attention to teacher roles in autonomous learning projects, professional development and professional freedom. Different ways of conceptualising the link between teacher and learner autonomy are discussed and an alternative conception based on the notion of transition from learner autonomy to teacher autonomy in learning-teaching careers is proposed.

scholarly journals Teacher Well-Being in EFL/ESL Classrooms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Li
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Definition Of

A popular point in the last 20 years in academic and business settings is well-being at work that is in line with positive psychology, through which one can understand how to make working conditions enjoyable. Alternatively, teaching has been recognized as the most stressful career. Although, not many studies in the form of review have been carried out to focus on the notion of the well-being of teachers in English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL). According to the literature review, the definition of this construct, the factors related to it, and the empirical studies in this domain are presented. In conclusion, the implications of well-being for teachers, school principals, teacher-trainers, and future researchers are provided, and new directions for future research are delineated.

scholarly journals Positive psychology and its role in foreign language learning studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 275-284
Author(s):  
Anna Michońska-Stadnik
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
General Psychology ◽  
School Subjects ◽  
Humanistic Approach

Positive psychology is a new subfield in general psychology which developed under the influence of humanistic approach at the end of the 20th century. Its subject-matter concerns human well-being, its sources and sustainable growth. This type of psychology distinguishes six positive human features: knowledge and wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance and transcendence. In foreign language learning in formal classroom conditions, which is different from learning other school subjects because it requires skill attainment, positive psychology, and its research methods could propose tools to more efficiently investigate determinants of differential success in the process of language acquisition.

Individualization of Foreign Language Teaching through Adaptive eLearning

2020 ◽  
pp. 269-286
Author(s):  
Katerina Kostolanyova ◽  
Stepanka Nedbalova
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Extended Version ◽  
The University

Lifelong learning has become an essential part of each profession. For this reason, personalized and adaptive learning has been drawing attention of professionals in the field of formal as well as informal education in the last few years. The effort has been made to design adaptive study supports regarding students' requirements, abilities and current knowledge. In the Czech Republic, particularly at the University of Ostrava, a team of educators, didactics professionals and IT professionals has been applying their mind to personalized learning in the electronic environment. They have been developing a suitable learning environment to fit students' learning styles. The paper describes a general model and a theory of adaptive eLearning from the perspective of the University of Ostrava professionals. It also demonstrates hard facts of the research in the field of language learning. This paper, Individualization of foreign language teaching through adaptive eLearning, is an extended version of the paper published in the ICWL 2015 workshop proceedings.

scholarly journals A Positive Psychology Perspective on Stimulating Foreign Language Learning Motivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 79-82
Author(s):  
Liyuan Teng ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Language Learning Motivation ◽  
Positive Individual

Motivation is the most direct factor affecting learning initiative. Previous studies on learning motivation have paid enough emphasis on how to reduce the negative effects of demotivation factors, while positive internal and external factors influencing learning motivation have not been drawn sufficient attention. Positive psychology is a psychological trend of studying positive aspects such as human strength and virtue, and advocates taking the perspective of “whole person” to focus the learning achievements and individual well-being of foreign learners. Based on positive psychology, this paper discusses how to stimulate foreign language learning motivation from the aspects of positive emotional experience, positive individual traits and positive institutions, which provides new ideas and implications for the related study on language teaching.

scholarly journals Editorial

2012 ◽  
pp. 2-5
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Professional Qualification ◽  
Professional Field ◽  
The University

A very warm welcome to the first issue of SiSAL journal of 2012, a special issue associated with the recent IATEFL Learner Autonomy SIG-sponsored conference, Advising for Language Learner Autonomy, held on November 12, 2011, at Kanda University of International Studies. This issue features papers from presenters at the conference who are all involved in advising for language learning (ALL). This conference was the first to be entirely dedicated to the field of language advising, and as such marks another significant landmark in the journey of ALL towards being fully recognized as a professional field in its own right (previous landmarks being the publication of the first book on advising in 2001 by Mozzon-McPherson and Vismans, a special issue of System in 2007, and the introduction of a professional qualification in learning advising at the University of Hull).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document