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Motivation and Flow

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The Palgrave Handbook of Motivation for Language Learning

Abstract

This chapter explores possible connections between flow and motivation and suggests expanding the motivation research agenda in SLA. The flow experience is defined as “the holistic sensation that people feel when they act with total involvement” (Csíkszentmihályi, Beyond boredom and anxiety: Experiencing flow in work and play. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, [1975] 2000, p. 36), which typically accompanies an activity that people perform for its own sake and for enjoyment. The chapter begins with an overview of flow theory and its links with motivation. Then, by following up on issues in mainstream education research (including collective flow experiences and flow in classrooms), ideas for the application of flow theory in language learning contexts are presented. The final section in the chapter discusses how already existing SLA research frameworks can serve as fertile ground for investigating flow experiences in language learning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    Katalin Piniel & Ágnes Albert

Authors
  1. Katalin Piniel
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  2. Ágnes Albert
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Correspondence to Katalin Piniel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Martin Lamb

  2. Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    Kata Csizér

  3. Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden

    Alastair Henry

  4. School of Culture, Media and Society, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Stephen Ryan

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Piniel, K., Albert, Á. (2019). Motivation and Flow. In: Lamb, M., Csizér, K., Henry, A., Ryan, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Motivation for Language Learning. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28380-3_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28380-3_28

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28379-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28380-3

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