Why language teachers should study psychology
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EmailEngagement within psychology can be the first step to aiding your students within the classroom.
Most educational programs encourage teachers to study psychology. Fields of psychology such as cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and educational psychology contain valuable information that can be transformative when applied in the classroom. Additionally, psychological principles and theories can be applied to language classes such as ESL (English as a second language), French and Spanish in a variety of ways. Here are a few ways these studies can help.
Understanding language learning processes
By studying psychology, we can better understand the learning process and how individuals learn a new language. Information processing and connectionism are the two major psychological frameworks associated with the learning process. Of the two frameworks, information processing theory has had more influence on second language acquisition than any other perspective in psychology. Information processing theory states that learning a language is like learning how to drive a car, solve a math problem or fly a kite. In other words, information processing theory states that learning a language involves the same mental processes as learning a different domain of knowledge, and therefore language learners are not engaging in different kinds of mental activity. This information is essential for language teachers who strive to create effective lesson plans that help students become proficient in a new language.
Psycholinguistics
Psycholinguistics is one of the most important areas of cognitive psychology. Defined as the scientific study of the psychology of language, psycholinguistics examines how we produce, understand and acquire language. Psycholinguistics also examines how these processes are affected by aging and injury. It is essential for language teachers to study psycholinguistics to better understand the cognitive processes involved in language acquisition. The theories presented by psycholinguistics are used as the basis for developing language teaching methods. By studying psycholinguistics, you will be able to create more effective lesson plans.
Classroom management skills
Studying psychology also provides teachers with tools for managing their classrooms more effectively. Psychology allows teachers to better address behavioral issues, help students with learning difficulties and build a healthy learning environment. When seeking to create a productive classroom environment, teachers should apply positive psychology. Positive psychology goes beyond helping us survive and instead, focuses on behaviors that allow us to build a life with purpose. Teachers can use positive psychology in the classroom by setting routines, using task assessments and praising students frequently.
Identifying signs of stress and mental health challenges
Students often show signs of stress and mental health challenges in the classroom. If teachers identify these signs quickly, they can assist their students and direct them to a mental healthcare professional. Schools in the United States often employ counselors and social workers to help students in difficult situations. It is essential that language teachers study psychology to better identify these signs and assist their students. In schools, the burden is often placed on teachers to help their students suffering from mental health challenges.
In conclusion, psychology offers teachers necessary skills and tools to understand the process of second language acquisition. In addition, by studying psychology, language teachers can better understand their students and manage their classrooms more effectively.
To learn more about emotional wellness, please visit Michigan State University Extension’s healthy living and emotional wellness webpage.
