Bridging Language and Well-being: Exploring the Potentials of Integrating Positive Psychology Content into English Language Teaching

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of English, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD in Psychology, Bidar Counseling Center, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Positive Language Education (PLE) has emerged as a significant area of focus within foreign language education, emphasizing the incorporation of well-being and positive psychological principles into the language learning process to foster a more holistic and supportive educational environment. Despite the growing scholarly interest in this approach, the application of Positive Psychology (PP) themes within language curricula, particularly in non-Western educational contexts, remains underexplored. In this qualitative study, the researchers explored the potential benefits of embedding PP content within a General English course. Drawing on established well-being themes from the literature—such as gratitude, resilience, emotion regulation, altruism, creativity, and life’s meaning—the researchers designed and implemented a series of activities and materials incorporating multimodal resources, including texts, audio recordings, and video clips across diverse genres (e.g., fiction and non-fiction). The study was conducted with a cohort of 85 Iranian female undergraduate students enrolled  in a General English course at a state university in Tehran., Iran Data were collected over the course of a semester through a combination of methods: classroom observations, analysis of student-generated materials, and in-depth semi-structured interviews with a selected number of participants. Thematic analysis of the collected data revealed that the integration of well-being themes and activities fostered the development of both linguistic and non-linguistic competencies, including enhanced positive self-expression, introspective self-reflection, well-being literacy, and the cultivation of a foreign language growth mindset. The findings highlight the multidimensional benefits of integrating PP principles into foreign language education.

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References

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Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Volume 44, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 119-143

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 20 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 03 January 2025

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