The Psychology of Language Teachers: Cognition, Affect, and Motivation

By Sarah Mercer and David Smid

This Element has three main aims. First, the authors wish to synthesize research on language teacher psychology to provide state-of-the-art insights into the topic and identify possible avenues of scholarship. They do so by adopting a trilogy of mind perspective, which helps organize aspects of teacher psychology into three domains: cognition, affect, and motivation. Second, the overview of the literature outlines key issues, identifies gaps in the authors' understandings and scholarship, and it also introduces less common constructs (e.g., flow, collective efficacy beliefs, attributions) to inspire future research in this area. Third, the authors intend to reflect on practical implications for practitioners, language teacher educators, preservice teachers, and policymakers of the research to date. Rather than offering a definitive account, the authors seek to open dialogue and encourage further research and practice to ensure language teachers in all contexts receive the recognition and thus support they deserve.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1009513877
• ISBN13: 9781009513876
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 75 Pages