Toward a Psycholinguistic Model of Affective Variables in EFL Contexts

The present study initially aimed at exploring the realm of affective variables such as motivation, anxiety and inhibition by reviewing the prevailing models and taxonomies used to account for such variables in the relevant literature. In so doing, three common approaches to the study of affective vriables, that is, (meta) cognitive approach, socio-cultural approach and the (more recent) contextual approach were elaborated on. Secondly, as the primary purpose of the study, a trichotomous model of affective variables within a contextual approach was put forward. Based on this tentative model, three macro components of a contextual approach to affective variables were identified as a) learners' objectives; b) learning environment and c) learners' emotions and feelings. A number of components were also highlighted at micro level under the three categories of objective-oriented, environment-oriented and feeling-oriented taxonomy of this model. Finally, these components were briefly discussed and their pedagogical implications for language teachers were drawn upon.