MSI Press Blog

  The field of language acquisition has been revolutionized by transformative language learning and teaching (TLLT), a methodological approach that fundamentally reimagines how adults acquire language proficiency. Unlike traditional language teaching methods, TLLT leverages deep cognitive transformation processes to achieve remarkable results. At its foundation, transformative language learning draws heavily from Mezirow's transformative learning theory in adult education. As Davidson (2019) explains, "TLLT applies Mezirow's framework of perspective transformation to the specific domain of language acquisition, targeting not just linguistic knowledge but the fundamental frames of reference through which learners engage with the target language." This integration of adult learning principles with language pedagogy represents a significant paradigm shift. The pioneering work of Leaver and Campbell (2020) established that "transformative approaches produce proficien...

  Cambridge University Press has made the introduction to Transformative Language Learning and Teaching free to access until 31 May -  https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/transformative-language-learning-and-teaching/introduction/52FA1941150765CB5D292294338651AC   This book is considered ground-breaking in the foreign language field and written by 30 leading L2 educators, three of whom are pictured here. Left to right: Betty Lou Leaver (Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, USA), Emilie Cleret (French War College, Paris), Jerome Collin (French War College, Paris). About the book: Transformative learning has been widely used in the field of adult education for over twenty years, but until recently has received little attention in the field of world languages. Drawing on best practices and the research of distinguished international world language experts, this volume provides theoretical and classroom-tested models of transformative education in world langua...

  Betty Lou Leaver, managing editor of the MSI Press LLC, has joined with two colleagues, to edit a groundbreaking book on transformative education. The back of the book says it all: Transformative learning has been widely used in the field of adult education for over 20 years, yet until recently has received little attention in the field of world languages. Drawing on test practices and research of distinguished international world language experts, this volume provides theoretical and classroom -tested models of transformative education in world languages in major university, state, and government programs. Chapters outline theoretical frameworks and detail successful models from cutting-edge programs in a wide range of languages, with plenty of examples included to make the theory accessible to readers not yet familiar with the concepts. Classroom teachers, program administrators, and faculty developers will find support for their courses. With its innovative approach to the tea...

  Betty Lou Leaver's book, Transformative Language Learning and Teaching (see affiliate books), published by Cambridge University Press, recently received the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages book prize for Best Book in Pedagogy 2022. Leaver, Davidson, and Campbell’s  Transformative Language Learning and Teaching  is a groundbreaking volume on the theory and practice of transformative teaching in the language learning context. The world language education field has experienced many methodological upheavals corresponding to theoretical or practical paradigms over the past century. The editors of this volume distill these changes into three large patterns whose practices are based on educational philosophies the primary paradigm of which encompasses three elements: transmission, in which information flows unidirectionally from teacher to learner, resulting in rote memory, reproduction, and accuracy; (2) transaction, in which informatio...

Every few days this year (2025), we plan to sift through our author pages and find the hidden video and audio gems because, let's face it, though they often contain fascinating videos and audio gems, often those reading the pages don't have time to listen at the moment and may not find their way back easily. There is often something special about hearing an author's voice. We plan to bring that "special" to you every few days this coming year. The first gem was recorded by the International Transformative Learning Association after a conference at Columbia University and features MSI Press author, Emilie Cleret ( Journal for Distinguished Language Studies ) and MSI Press managing editor, Betty Lou Leaver (author of Achieving Nativelike Second Language Competence  and Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star and co-author of The Invisible Classroom ). Emilie also wrote a book chapter for the book, Transformative Language Learning and Teaching (...

Just added as an affiliated book. Published by Cambridge University Press . Available through CUP or Amazon (and other online stores). Transformative learning has been widely used in the field of adult education for over twenty years, but until recently has received little attention in the field of world languages. Drawing on best practices and the research of distinguished international world language experts, this volume provides theoretical and classroom-tested models of transformative education in world languages at major university, state and governmental programs. Chapters outline theoretical frameworks and detail successful models from cutting-edge programs in a wide range of languages, with plenty of examples included to make the theory accessible to readers not yet familiar with the concepts. Classroom teachers, program administrators and faculty developers at every level of instruction will find support for their courses. With its innovative approach to the teaching and lear...

  Today, Dr. Betty Lou Leaver and co-editors, who published the MSI Press affiliated book with Cambridge University Press, Transformative Language Learning and Teaching , were awarded the premier book award in the foreign language field, the Modern Language Association's Kenneth W. Mildenberger award. The citation for the award was given as: Betty Lou Leaver, Dan E. Davidson, and Christine Campbell bring together well-known and up-and-coming scholars in language teaching and learning to provide a thorough, coherent treatment of the concept of transformative learning in Transformative Language Learning and Teaching. Each of the twenty-four content chapters outlines relevant theoretical approaches and supplements them with successful examples from institutions around the world to illustrate theory into practice. With a broad range of examples and end-of-chapter discussion questions, this book is certain to become a go-to resource for teachers, teacher educators, administrator...

For Transformation Tuesday, here is a nugget of transformative   108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas  by Julie Gentile.  " Take incredible care of yourself now so you can take care of the others in your life."   awards earned by 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas IPPY bronze medal Book Excellence Award finalist Julie maintains a transformative website on Ayurvedic yoga and self-care. Check it out: Julie the Yogi . For more posts about Julie and her books, click  HERE . Read more Transformation Tuesday Nuggets HERE Read more posts about transformation HERE . To purchase copies of this book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to buy this book and not have to pay for it? Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it. VISIT OUR  WEBSITE  TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES. Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter (recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top...