The application of relational theory towards a deeper understanding of emotional variables in language education

At the heart of the relational theory, which stems from psychological studies, is the contention that the human mind is formed within interpersonal relationships. In the present paper, the aim is to show that the same goes for emotions. More importantly, in educational settings, the relationships between and among the individuals especially the teacher-student relationships lead to the emergence of different emotions. The present paper shows how the relational theory can be used in the second language acquisition domain to explain the development of different L2 emotions that learners experience while interactively involved in acquiring a second language in class. What is mostly emphasized in this paper is the teacher-student relationships that occur in L2 classes and accommodate the L2 emotions. The related literature on teacher-student relationships and emotional development in L2 classrooms is reviewed, and insightful remarks are provided for L2 teachers, teacher trainers, learners, and researchers.