Emotions and Communication in Second/Additional Language: Getting Students Ready for an International Experience

Internationalisation of education is a global phenomenon which highlights the importance of successful communication processes on an unprecedented scale. Yet, there is little explicit information on the most effective ways of preparing students for the international educational experience of studying in another country. Research demonstrates that international students regularly report difficulties not just with the local language but using language in contexts and understanding the local culture of communication. This paper addresses the vital but often neglected notion of emotions and their importance in the communication process. It focuses on different aspects concerning the perception and expression of emotions in the second language, and on possible ways of incorporating them into the Second/Additional Language curriculum and bilingual education. The paper presents the results of a quantitative study examining the possible influence of the immersion in the L2 language and culture on the recognition and expression of emotions in that language. Research results suggest that even a very short stay in an L2 country can significantly enhance the ability to encode the expression and decode perception of emotions in the L2. The paper proposes that the ability to recognise and express emotions in second/additional languages is a critical skill that augments learners’ communication. Consequently, the paper postulates the inclusion of teaching the recognition and expression of emotions in a target language into second/additional language education curriculum.