Sessions

Building Community Through Learner Engagement

Nurturing community is critical for fully engaging students in learning. This presentation will explore how building community reduces psychological resistance and encourages student engagement. It discusses how to encourage an engaged learner community by building trust, making communicative activities more meaningful, and by focusing on learners’ personal point of view. A questionnaire to measure student resistance and engagement will be introduced. The focus will be hands-on and practical.

Motivation and Resistance to Language Learning

This presentation introduces a new approach to understanding negative attitudes towards language learning. It introduces the Linguaculture Learning Profiler (LMP), which measures learner motivation on a dual axis of engagement and resistance. It is argued that psychological resistance is a normal (though not desirable) part of foreign language learning. The theoretical approach, research aims, and methodology is introduced. The instrument will be shared with participants, and pedagogical implications will be discussed.