Affect In Learning And Memory: The Process Of Tying Affect-data Knots Along Memory Stages

Abstract

The psychology of the foreign language learner has been evidenced to affect say condition all learning activity. The present paper is an attempt to investigate the way learner affect intervenes in learning through its different phases: exposure to the instructional material, the processing of perceived data, and the storage and retrieval of the processed data in the long-term memory. It has been concluded that learner affect is of a paramount importance in learning; it either eases or thwarts data intake, enhances or impedes data processing, and inculcates or hastens the loss of data stores. The insights attained through the study could help foreign language teachers to attend to learner affect and incorporate it in every course design to optimize his acquisitions and ensure his smooth and effective use of the language.