Humanistic Learning in English Language Teaching

Abstrak

This conceptual paper proposes principles for humanistic learning in English Language Teaching ELT) and focuses on psychological safety, emotional involvement, worthwhile communication, and learners’ actualization in language learning through an effective, holistic approach.  There have been studies on humanistic learning, but they tend to treat it separately. The objective of this conceptual paper is to draw together the concepts of humanistic in ELT through the incorporation of humanistic theory and the pedagogical tradition of language. This paper places humanistic learning not only as a fragmentary instructional approach, but also as a systemic pedagogical philosophy, referring to the theory of humanistic learning proposed by Carl Rogers, the need hierarchy of Abraham Maslow, and the principles in the humanistic language teaching tradition. This paper suggests an integrated concept through conceptual analysis and theoretical synthesis to show how humanistic learning affects the learners, teachers, pedagogical practice, and assessment in ELT.