Book Review: Padilla, A.M., Chen, X. (2025). Positive Psychology and Second Language Education; Springer Nature Switzerland AG: Cham, Switzerland; ISBN: 978-3-031-95135-0

Abstract

Positive Psychology and Second Language Education by Amado M. Padilla and Xinjie Chen (2025) provides an innovative and optimistic outlook on language learning. The book argues that second language learning and teaching could be viewed through a positive psychology framework that places emphasis on learners' strengths, well-being and flourishing. It redirects the interest away from focusing primarily on learners' deficits, such as anxiety and failure towards promoting a positive state of mind when acquiring a second language. In addition, the authors introduce positive psychology (PosPsy) as a model of language education. Combining theoretical insights with practical strategies for both teaching and learning, the book is a significant addition to applied linguistics. What is especially attractive about the work, however, is that it works to connect affective perception in language acquisition with cognitive thought processes, an idea often discussed but rarely approached systematically. Placing language learning within the framework of human flourishing, the authors force readers to think about the nature of becoming a successful language learner. In the following sections, I will discuss how each part of the book contributes to our understanding of language learning through a positive psychological lens.