The Magic Teacher. Teacher Efficacy and Empathy in Foreign Language Teaching

This book is based on the author’s phd research on the academic doctoral degree programme “Corso di Dottorato di Ricerca in Psicologia dell’Orientamento e dei Processi di Apprendimento, Universit? la Sapienza, Medicina e Psicologia, XXIV Ciclo”, under the supervision of Prof. Traute Taeschner and co-tutor Dr. Sabine Pirchio. It presents a research project carried out at the “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of Sofia, Bulgaria, related to the introduction of the Narrative Format model of second language acquisition to Initial Teacher Training students at the University. This innovative model, developed by Professor Traute Taeschner, is based on a psycholinguistic approach towards language acquisition and language teaching in which issues of motivation, empathy and good communication play a vital role. The project offered an invaluable opportunity to implement the model within the context of the Bulgarian educational system and was seen as an occasion to provide future language teachers of children with new skills and competences which would help them in their professional development and job satisfaction.