The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education

As an emotionally dynamic process, language learning is marked by fluctuations in students' affective constructs (e.g., enjoyment, playfulness, boredom). Thus, clues supporting an ecological perspective on behavioral trends and changes in language learners' emotional constructs driven by r...

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Main Author: Xi Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-06-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023040987
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author Xi Li
author_facet Xi Li
author_sort Xi Li
collection DOAJ
description As an emotionally dynamic process, language learning is marked by fluctuations in students' affective constructs (e.g., enjoyment, playfulness, boredom). Thus, clues supporting an ecological perspective on behavioral trends and changes in language learners' emotional constructs driven by relational person and contextual components may be discovered. Therefore, an ecological approach enriched with the nested ecosystems model and complex dynamic system theory (CDST) can facilitate the investigation of dynamics of language students' affective constructs. These are first categorized and analyzed on the microsystem scale concerning students' motivation, beliefs, linguistic factors, cognitive factors, affective factors, and classroom context. Then, they are analyzed in 3 ecosystems including meso-, exo-, and macrosystems, each revealing an invaluable dimension of the reality of the emergent dynamicity of the variables. The present paper first draws attention to the dynamic nature of L2 learners’ emotional factors and raises awareness of the ecological dynamic system theory. Then, it reviews the existing ecological studies of L2 affective variables and summarizes the findings. It ends with several conclusive remarks and suggestions for the future line of research.
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spelling doaj.art-fa1b9cdf64204ef494aea98e9e00b1962023-06-07T04:49:16ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-06-0196e16891The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 educationXi Li0School of Foreign Languages, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, ChinaAs an emotionally dynamic process, language learning is marked by fluctuations in students' affective constructs (e.g., enjoyment, playfulness, boredom). Thus, clues supporting an ecological perspective on behavioral trends and changes in language learners' emotional constructs driven by relational person and contextual components may be discovered. Therefore, an ecological approach enriched with the nested ecosystems model and complex dynamic system theory (CDST) can facilitate the investigation of dynamics of language students' affective constructs. These are first categorized and analyzed on the microsystem scale concerning students' motivation, beliefs, linguistic factors, cognitive factors, affective factors, and classroom context. Then, they are analyzed in 3 ecosystems including meso-, exo-, and macrosystems, each revealing an invaluable dimension of the reality of the emergent dynamicity of the variables. The present paper first draws attention to the dynamic nature of L2 learners’ emotional factors and raises awareness of the ecological dynamic system theory. Then, it reviews the existing ecological studies of L2 affective variables and summarizes the findings. It ends with several conclusive remarks and suggestions for the future line of research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023040987Key terms: affective variablesEcological studySLAComplex dynamic system theoryDynamicity of emotions
spellingShingle Xi Li
The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education
Heliyon
Key terms: affective variables
Ecological study
SLA
Complex dynamic system theory
Dynamicity of emotions
title The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education
title_full The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education
title_fullStr The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education
title_full_unstemmed The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education
title_short The need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in L2 education
title_sort need for ecological nested models as emerging theoretical frameworks in the investigation of affective variables in l2 education
topic Key terms: affective variables
Ecological study
SLA
Complex dynamic system theory
Dynamicity of emotions
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023040987
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