Applying principles of positive psychology in English teaching

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 聊城大学大学外语教育学院/林洪

【Abstract】 The aim of this paper was to explore individualdifference in English learning by using positive psychology at theclass. And discuss approaches which can help English teachersto increase students’ positive emotion through lessons andactivities on happiness, creativity, positive thinking,resilience etc.

【Key words】 positive psychology; positive emotions; Englishteaching

1. What is positive psychology

A newly rising field of psychology research, PositivePsychology, which focuses on personal growth rather thanpathology has started to take center stage in American at the endof the 20th century.

Positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positiveinstitutions are the three issues’ of positive psychology, and thefinding of it indicate that happiness is improved and affected infolk different ways. The goal of using positive psychology is tohelp people change their negative thinking as a way to vary theirfeeling.

2.The reason of using positive psychology in Englishlearning

2.1 Current English learning and teaching situationAccording to statistical data on education, Chinese studentswho are not native English speakers have difficulty in Englishlearning, even some of them have a weak foundation in English,while the assigned teaching period is insufficient for the hugeprogramme of English teaching.

2.2 The enlightenment of positive psychology to Englishteaching

As positive psychology focus on the potential human virtues,mental quality training, it can have a range of applications in areasincluding education.

Classroom teaching mode emphasizes in the concept ofpositive psychology: English class should based on students’

positive psychological development, pay attention to the“experiential” growth and development of students, and pursuethe unity of prepared and unprepared teaching aims.

To build a scientific, standardized, effective and operableEnglish classroom teaching mode towards the students'

sustainable development, the different roles of teacher andstudents and the rich teaching activities, that is the class structuremodel of perception—activity—share—assessment of students'

experiences.

3. Positive psychology used in classroom-based English teaching3.1 Create good learning environment.

Combining with the teaching contents in class, Englishteacher can set up an interesting, high participation teachinggames, so that make students have a new understanding ofEnglish classroom instead of “dull, stiff, boring” Englishclassroom, willing to learn English. And outside the classroom,teachers can guide their English corner organization, classicEnglish movie appreciation, drama performances, story telling,singing and other activities

3.2 Strengthen the positive experiences and feelings.

Teachers can teach students in accordance with their aptitude,striving to create the chance of success for their students, andlet students to experience a sense of achievement and success.

Meanwhile, teachers should pay attention to find the best instudents and even a little progress to them not stingy praise,as praise seems to be an effective method of fostering Englishlearning.

3.3 Mound positive personality.

Teachers should pay attention to the development of positivepersonality, including self-confidence, positive and optimistic,wisdom, intelligence, etc. In English teaching, teachers shouldarouse students' interest in learning English, and also build theirconfidence and form the good English-learning motivation andhabits through continuous encouragement and support .

3.4 Attach importance to the guidance of study methods.

To Avoid “Learned Helplessness” in English learning,teaching English should follow these three teaching pattern:

targeted teaching, study method teaching, and “get somethingnew in looking over one's old studies” . Only students get theknowledge, then they have the interests in further learning.

4. Conclusion

To summarize, using the strategies from positive psychology,English teachers can motivate students and help them understandand develop their personal strengths, no question that students canarouse learning interest and enthusiasm, even achieve good resultsin English learning.

References:

[1]Djebbari,Z.(2016).Positive psychology in language teaching.

https://www.morebooks.de/store/pt/book/positive-psychology-inlanguage-teaching/isbn/978-3-659-71148-0.

[2]张敏.如何在英语教学中渗透积极心理学[J].新课程:教育学术版,2009(8).

[3]玄兆丹.积极心理学在初中英语教学中的应用研究[J].河北师范大学,2015.