Investigating Teacher-Student Emotional Dynamics in English Language Teaching: Examining Co-Regulation Techniques and Their Impact on Learning Outcomes

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to explore the role of teacher-student emotional dynamics within the context of English language teaching. Co-regulation refers to the ability of one person to help another person regulate their emotions and behavior. In the context of the classroom, this means that teachers and students can work together to create a conducive environment where everyone can learn. This study explores how different methods of co-regulation used by English language teachers affect learners’ feelings, motivation levels, and academic achievement in English lessons. They include: affect copy, overt adult praise, decision making by consensus and emotion prompting scaffolding which the study used to maintain the level of students’ engagement and achievement in English language learning. The study targeted 50 ELT teachers in the 15 selected schools, and 450 students in Junior High, High and Senior High in city of Multan, Pakistan. The sampling procedure was done through stratification in an effort to sample according to grades, the type of ELT contexts, and students’ demographic profile. The techniques used consisted of direct and proximal observation of ELT context activities, completion of questionnaires and evaluation of students’ records. The findings prove that emotional co-regulation processes improve the ELT environment and students’ self-regulation skills as well as their motivation in learning English. The relationships found between teachers’ self-identified emotional literacy and the degree to which co-regulation strategies were purposefully enacted highlighted the significance of emotional intelligence in the school context. The research implies the significance of teachers’ emotional awareness and their ability to utilize specific co-regulation interventions to create a healthy and conducive environment within English language teaching.