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ELT Journal Advance Access published online on November 3, 2009
ELT Journal, doi:10.1093/elt/ccp083
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press; all rights reserved.

A mindset for EFL: learners’ beliefs about the role of natural talent

Sarah Mercer and Stephen Ryan

Sarah Mercer currently teaches English at the University of Graz where she has worked for over ten years. Her research interests include various aspects of the psychology surrounding the language learning experience, in particular self-concept, attributions, and implicit theories
Stephen Ryan has been teaching and researching in Japan for more than 15 years. His main research interest is the psychological dimension to English learning. He is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Seitoku University, Japan

Email: sarah.mercer{at}uni-graz.at

Email: stephenryan{at}skcryan.net


  Abstract

This article explores the role of the psychological construct of ‘implicit theories’ or ‘mindsets’ in the context of foreign language learning. It considers psychology-based research of the construct in respect to the EFL context and reports on a small exploratory study using interviews carried out with tertiary-level learners in Austria and Japan. The authors wish to argue for the relevance and importance of the construct for ELT, explore some of the potential issues raised by the initial study, and consider some of the pedagogical implications arising from both the literature and the findings.

Revised version received July 2009


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