Language learning has traditionally been much more strongly associated with mental effort than with an emotional experience. However, in more recent years, the integral role of emotion in learning – and evidence that emotions and intelligence sit hand in hand – has been recognised by cognitive scientists.
So, how can we use these important findings to help our English language learners? Find out in this webinar recording from Herbert Puchta, where he outlines the key aspects of emotional engagement that are important to consider with adult learners:
A sense of movement
How movement doesn’t always have to be physical in the adult classroom – and the most efficient learning techniques we should employ to replicate a sense of physical progression.
A sense of relevance
The importance of selecting appropriate materials, which appeal to the right emotions of learners. Herbert also explores how texts of varying difficulties can serve an important emotional purpose for learners of different intellectual levels – and what makes us enjoy a good story!
A sense of control
The methods that we can use as teachers to help students with their inherent desire to make the language learning process their own, including the significance of creating an error-welcoming environment to facilitate this. Help your students gain the freedom to say things simply because they want to say them!
Other interesting topics raised in the Q&A at the end of the session included the challenges of cross-cultural humour, how to motivate learners who have developed long-standing negative associations with language learning, and even the emotional response to homework – simply watch the webinar recording above to find out more.