Investigating foreign language education through the lenses of great minds

Abstract

The paper is a brief review of three great philosophers' tenetsand their implications on foreign language education. Based on the recurring themes, namely, Noddings "teaching with care", Dewey's "learning by doing" and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, the paper highlights the importance of care and love, interaction, practical opportunities and scaffolding in a foreign language classroom, and gives insights on teaching, learning and curriculum design in foreign language education. Leaners in a foreign language classroom may be more struggling with their learning, thus requiring more care and help from their teachers. These philosophies serve as guiding principles to help teachers understand the meaning of their teaching and explore the world of foreign language education.