Stimulating Student Interest in Language Learning

This book explores the issues and concerns many language teachers have in not just helping able students to learn a foreign or second language but more importantly how to get reluctant learners to become interested in language learning. Tin proposes 'interest' as an important construct that requires investigation if we are to understand second language learning experiences in a modern globalised world. The book offers both theoretical explorations and empirical findings arising from the author's own research in the field. Chapters demonstrate how various theoretical and empirical findings can be applied to practice so as to raise the awareness of the importance of interest in language learning and teaching. For teacher trainers and educators, researchers, and practising language teachers, this comprehensive study provides tools to stimulate student interest in language learning for successful language learning.

The book is a monograph based on a longitudinal qualitative study investigating student interest in institutional language learning. I believe the book will be most relevant to graduate students and researchers. The major strength of this book I believe is that it applies theorizing from areas other than language learning to investigate interest in language learning. I believe this book is a welcome addition to the literature and provides some deep insights into the concept of student interest. (Lindy Woodrow, tesol Quarterly, Vol. 52 (4), December, 2018)

This book is a worthwhile contribution to the literature on English language teaching, for researchers, teacher educators . It brings together as never before the research and theory of the central topic from a wide range of sources, and shows how it applies to ELT. The content is presented in a well-organized sequence, with regular reader-friendly summaries and conclusions. There are some thought-provoking practical suggestions. (Penny Ur, ELT Journal, Vol. 71 (4), October, 2017)

Autorentext
Tan Bee Tin started her career as an English language teacher in Myanmar/Burma. She has widely published in international journals (e.g. Applied Linguistics, Language Teaching Research, ELT Journal), focusing on language learning and teaching in peripheral contexts and the role of interest and creativity in language learning and teaching.

Inhalt
PART I: INTEREST - DEFINITIONS AND THEORIES.- Chapter 1: Introduction ('Interest' as a new conceptual lens).- Chapter 2. 'Interest' and other similar terms.- Chapter 3. Defining 'interest': an educational psychological perspective.- Chapter 4. Studying 'interest': approaches and methodological issues.- PART 2: EXPLORING THE INTEREST CONSTRUCT WITH REFERENCE TO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING/TEACHING.- Chapter 5. 'Interest talk' with English language teachers/educators.- Chapter 6. 'Interest talk' with English language learners: in-class and out-of-class experiences.- Chapter 7. 'Interest talk' with English language learners: 'same' class, but 'different' interest trajectories and experiences.- Chapter 8. Features of interesting English language classes: The role of teacher talk.- PART III: STIMULATING STUDENT INTEREST IN LANGUAGE LEARNING: APPLYING THEORY AND RESEARCH TO INFORM TEACHING AND PRACTICE.- Chapter 9. Stimulating student interest in language learning.- Chapter 10. Conclusion ('A final call').- References.- Appendix: Symbols used in transcribing.