Personality Theory and TESOL

Vol. 3 No. 1

Year: 2009

Issue: May-July

Title: Personality Theory and TESOL 

Author Name: M. Fadi Al Shalabi, Dr. Mohammad Ali Salmani Nodoushan 

Synopsis: 

In this paper, it is argued, based on evidence from psychological literature, that there are three major approcahes to the study of personality, namely (a) situationism, (b) interactionism, and (c) constructivism. It is also noticed that these approached have resulted in the emergence of three major types of personality theories: (1) type theories, (2) trait theories, and (3) factor theories. In connection to TESOL, it is argued that extroversion/introversion and risk-taking are the most important personality factors. It is also argued that such personality factors as tolerance of ambiguity, empathy, self-esteem, inhibition, and intelligence have also been addressed by TESOL research, but that the two most important factors are extroversion/introversion and risk-taking.