A Tale of Two Learners: Discovering Mentoring, Motivation, Emotions, Engagement, and Perseverance

Abstract

The field of positive psychology has brought to the foreground the relevance of positive emotions in forging learners’ identities, overcoming difficulties, building resources and fostering general well-being. This chapter highlights the role of positive emotions, motivation, engagement, perseverance, and positive mentoring in the journeys of two individuals who learned English as a foreign language despite adversities and who eventually became accomplished English professors. The researchers analyzed the learners’ narratives using a grounded theory approach and identified the most salient themes. Results revealed the positive influences of mentors in learners’ lives, as well as indicating the importance of intrinsic motivation, positive emotions, engagement and perseverance in leading to success and satisfaction. The two learners continued toward English proficiency even when others around them might have seen only difficulty or impossibility. Their stories echo the fascinating, dynamic complexity that is central to language learning.