A Positive Psychology Perspective on Stimulating Foreign Language Learning Motivation

Abstract

Motivation is the most direct factor affecting learning initiative. Previous studies on learning motivation have paid enough emphasis on how to reduce the negative effects of demotivation factors, while positive internal and external factors influencing learning motivation have not been drawn sufficient attention. Positive psychology is a psychological trend of studying positive aspects such as human strength and virtue, and advocates taking the perspective of “whole person” to focus the learning achievements and individual well-being of foreign learners. Based on positive psychology, this paper discusses how to stimulate foreign language learning motivation from the aspects of positive emotional experience, positive individual traits and positive institutions, which provides new ideas and implications for the related study on language teaching.