Interpersonal Dynamics in Second Language Education: The Visible and Invisible Classroom

Until now, relatively little research on interpersonal processes and group dynamics addressed the educational domain, particularly second language education. This book fills the gap by synthesizing diverse aspects of interpersonal and group psychology and exploring conscious and unconscious processes that affect learning and teaching. Drawing on humanistic, social, and clinical psychology, it addresses unconscious communication among people, group development, class climate, psychological characteristics of effective classroom groups, leadership roles, interpersonal attraction and conflicts, and the relationship of these to learner autonomy and collaborative learning. The authors examine the contributions of the mental health branches of counseling and clinical psychology to our understanding of how teachers, learners and a variety of figures who many never enter the classroom interact with each other to make second language learning more or less effective. In particular, the authors show how the unconscious ôscriptsö can cause unproductive conflict demotivation and eventual aversion to language learning. Moreover, the text shows how learning can be facilitated by appropriate use of interpersonal dynamics. Due to its interdisciplinary nature, this book will be of interest to teacher educators and practicing teachers, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, school administrators and supervisors of educational programs, and many learners themselves. In addition, since the main focus of the book is the affective foundation of the teaching/learning process, this material will be relevant to non-language teachers and clinical practitioners interested in educational issues, as well as graduate students in training for those professions.

Madeline Ehrman is an independent scholar and consultant, retired from the position of  Director of Research, Evaluation, & Development at the Foreign Service Institute (US Department of State). With advanced degrees in both linguistics and psychology, she has published extensively on topics that combine both fields, e.g., the books Understanding Second Language Learning Difficulties and Interpersonal Dynamics in Second Language Education. Her areas of interest include individual differences in adult language learning, language learning aptitude, the emotional aspects of learning, and helping learners make better use of their metacognition. In addition to continuing to write and consult, she also is pursuing a long-time interest in the work of JRR Tolkien.