FYI: Call for Chapters: Self-concept & Second Lang Acq

Author:	Michael Magid
Linguistic Field(s):	Applied Linguistics Language Acquisition
FYI Body:	Deadline for abstracts: June 1st 2012) Title: The Impact of Self-concept on Second Language Acquisition Editors: Dr. Kata Csizér (weinkata@yahoo.com) and Dr. Michael Magid (mmagid@hotmail.com) A learner’s sense of self has been found to play a key role in academic achievement (Pajares & Schunk, 2005) and it may play a more significant role in language learning since “language, after all, belongs to a person’s whole social being; it is a part of one’s identity, and is used to convey this identity to other people” (Williams & Burden, 1997, p. 115). Recently in SLA, scholars have focused on the importance of self-concept as a result of Zoltán Dörnyei’s L2 Motivation Self System which is based on Higgins’s (1987) self-discrepancy theory in which an L2 learner compares their current self-concept to their self guides which are their ideal self and their ought self. Self-concept may be “conceptualized in global terms or in respect to specific domains and includes both cognitive and affective dimensions” (Mercer, 2011, p. 65) This edited volume seeks to highlight the effects of self-concept on SLA by considering a wide range of theories related to self-concept as well as their practical application. Possible areas that may be discussed in chapters that will be selected for this volume include (but are not limited to): -The L2 Motivational Self System -The Self-concept as a complex dynamic system -L2 Learner beliefs -Identity -Willingness to communicate -L2 linguistic self-confidence and anxiety -Self-efficacy and self-esteem -Metacognition Submissions that adopt mixed methods approaches are especially welcome. Potential authors are invited to submit a proposal of around 500 words to both editors by June 1st 2012. Intended Readership: The general interest in L2 motivation and the possible practical classroom applications would encourage a wide range of readership, especially but not exclusively: researchers in the areas of Applied Linguistics, language pedagogy and social psychology; pre- and postgraduate students of the above outlined fields; language teacher trainers and their trainees in pre-service and in-service courses; language policy stakeholders and language teachers. We aim to publish this book with Multilingual Matters. Biographical Data of the Editors Kata Csizér graduated from Eötvös Loránd University, School of English and American Studies in 1998. She has been teaching English since 1998. She holds a PhD in Language Pedagogy. She has been working at the Department of English Applied Linguistics, where she teaches various L2 motivation courses. Her main field of research interest is the socio- psychological aspects of L2 learning and teaching as well as second and foreign language motivation. She has published over 50 academic papers on various aspects of L2 motivation and has co-authored three books, including Motivational dynamics, language attitudes and language globalisation: A Hungarian perspective (2006, Multilingual-Matters, with Zoltán Dörnyei and Nóra Németh). Michael Magid is currently working as an English Language Pedagogy Specialist at the English Language Institute of Singapore. As an English Language Pedagogy Specialist, Michael draws on his experience of teaching English at all levels in Canada, England, China, and Japan as well as his background in Applied Linguistics. He graduated from the University of Nottingham and holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics which was written under the supervision of Zoltán Dörnyei. As a part of his PhD, Michael designed a programme based on the L2 Motivational Self System to motivate learners of English and build their self-confidence. His publications are in the areas of L2 motivation, Sociolinguistics, and materials development. His most recent publication is entitled Motivating English learners by helping them visualise their Ideal L2 Self: Lessons from two motivational programmes (2011, Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, with Letty Chan).