Towards an Understanding of Language Learner Self-Concept

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Introduction

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 1-11

3. What Is Self-Concept?

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 13-33

4. Understanding Self-Concept in the FLL Context

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 35-71

5. How Do Learners Form Their Self-Concepts?

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 73-96

6. Internal Frames of Reference in FL Self-Concept Formation

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 97-125

7. External Frames of Reference in FL Self-Concept Formation

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 127-165

8. Implications for Educators and Researchers

   • Sarah Mercer

   Pages 167-179

9. Back Matter

   Pages 181-220

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This book contributes to our growing understanding of the nature and development of language learner self-concept. It assesses the relevant literature in the disciplines of psychology and applied linguistics and describes in-depth, qualitative research examining the self-concepts of tertiary-level EFL learners. Although researchers in applied linguistics and SLA have recognized the importance of self-constructs, there remains little empirical work in the context of foreign language learning that focuses exclusively and at length on this central psychological construct. The content of this monograph draws on interdisciplinary sources, with input from psychology and applied linguistics. It will appeal to students and researchers interested in language-learner psychology as well as self-related constructs in general. The text provides insights into how learners view themselves, and how these self-beliefs can develop and affect the progress of an individual’s language learning.

• SLA
• TEFL
• applied linguistics
• educational linguistics
• foreign language
• language education
• language learning
• language teaching
• pedagogic psychology
• pedagogy
• psychology of language learning
• self-concept

From the reviews:

“Towards an Understanding of Language Learner Self-Concept is an especially insightful and timely contribution. Using a strong, interdisciplinary approach that builds on reflections from current research in both psychology and applied linguistics, Mercer focuses on how learners form their English as a foreign language (EFL) self-concept. … I would have no hesitation in highly recommending this book to language teachers and others who are interested in self-concept or any self-related constructs.” (James Rock, JALT Journal, Vol. 35 (1), May, 2013)

“The book starts with a useful overview of the research domain, which culminates in a convincing argument for the need to depart from the dominant quantitative and hypothesis-testing approaches to researching self-concept and this is exactly what Mercer endeavours to do. … we indeed gain insights that typically remain hidden from the sight of more positivist-oriented researchers, but which resonate much more closely with the everyday experiences of language learners and teachers. The contribution that this book therefore makes to the field is unquestionable.” (Magdalena Kubanyiova, ELT Journal, Vol. 67 (1), January, 2013)

• Rein, Austria

  Sarah Mercer

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