Positive Psychology in SLA

Abstract This article begins with an outline of the developments in Positive Psychology (PP) generally and specifically within SLA focusing on theoretical, empirical and practical developments. It moves on to consider PP’s potential contribution to language teaching focusing on how it can help promote emotional, social and psychological wellbeing for language learners and teachers. It explores the concept of ‘Positive Education’ and reflects on possible lessons from these broader developments for a specific approach to ‘Positive Language Education’. It is argued that PP facilitates new ways of thinking about language learning and can provide the ideal vehicle from which to foreground wellbeing as a concept and dual aim in language education.