Capitalizing on Language Learners' Individuality From Premise to Practice

by Gregersen, Tammy; Macintyre, Peter D.

• ISBN13: 9781783091201
• ISBN10: 1783091207
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2014-01-13
• Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Summary

This book closes the gap between theory and classroom application by capitalizing on learners' individuality in second or foreign language learning. The book examines the existing literature and theoretical underpinnings of each of the most prominent learner characteristics including anxiety, beliefs, cognitive abilities, motivation, strategies, styles and willingness to communicate. This strong foundation, coupled with the wide variety of activities that are suggested at the end of each chapter, arms the reader with ideas to conquer the problems created by negative affect and to capitalize on positive, facilitative emotions. The tasks are unrestricted by language and can be modified for use with technology, emergent learners and large classes, making this book a useful resource for both in-service teachers and pre-service teachers in university language teacher education programs.

Author Biography

Tammy Gregersen is Professor of TESOL at the University of Northern Iowa, USA. She has over 25 years of experience in the fields of language teaching methodology, language teacher training, learner variables, emotion and nonverbal communication in language learning.Peter D. MacIntyre is Professor of Psychology at Cape Breton University, Canada. He has published widely in the areas of the psychology of communication, motivation, emotion, willingness to communicate, language acquisition and dynamic systems.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Anxiety: From Premise… to Practice

2. Beliefs: From Premise… to Practice

3. Cognitive Abilities: From Premise… to Practice

4. Motivation: From Premise… to Practice

5. Learning Strategies: From Premise… to Practice

6. Learning Styles: From Premise… to Practice

7. Willingness to Communicate: From Premise… to Practice

Epilogue