This book examines the field of educational psychology and considers ways in which a deeper understanding of this discipline can help language teachers.

Psychology for Language Teachers begins with an overview of educational psychology and discusses how different approaches to psychology have influenced language teaching methodology. Following this, four themes are identified: the learner, the teacher, the task and the learning context. Psychological developments in each of these domains are discussed and implications are drawn for language teaching. Areas considered include approaches to learning, motivation, the role of the individual, attribution, mediation, the teaching of thinking, the cognitive demands of tasks and the learning environment.

Key features

• Psychology for Language Teachers does not assume previous knowledge of psychology.
• Presents an overview of educational psychology and discusses how different approaches have influenced language teaching methodology.
• Provides an accessible discussion of the topic.