A mindset for EFL: learners' beliefs about the role of natural talent

Abstract

This article explores the role of the psychological construct of ‘implicit theories’ or ‘mindsets’ in the context of foreign language learning. It considers psychology-based research of the construct in respect to the EFL context and reports on a small exploratory study using interviews carried out with tertiary-level learners in Austria and Japan. The authors wish to argue for the relevance and importance of the construct for ELT, explore some of the potential issues raised by the initial study, and consider some of the pedagogical implications arising from both the literature and the findings.