Beliefs and emotions in foreign language learning

From the argument that in languaging worlds are created (Aragao, 2005; Kalaja, 1995, 2003; Maturana and Varela, 2001; Nunez, 1997), this article aims at reflecting about the relationship between emotions and beliefs in foreign language learning. It is argued that beliefs and emotions in language learning/teaching are inter-related and can be observed in the way students conceive their classroom environment as they disclose feelings and core beliefs about themselves as students of English as a Foreign Language. Framed by the concepts of languaging, emotions and beliefs in a contextual and discursive approach, results of a qualitative study are presented in which data comes from narrative research documents and visual representations of students shedding light on the historical and situated interplay of beliefs and emotions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.