FROM FLUENCY TO FLOURISHING: APPLYING NEUROHEART EDUCATION IN CONTEMPORARY EFL INSTRUCTION

In the evolving landscape of Education 5.0, the role of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching is expanding beyond linguistic competence to embrace emotional intelligence, learner autonomy, and holistic human development.This article explores the integration of Rachel Paling's NeuroHeart Education methodology into contemporary EFL instruction.Rooted in neuroscience, emotional intelligence theory, and educational psychology, the NeuroHeart model redefines the teacher as a coach, co-learner, and emotional guide.It aligns with five key pedagogical approaches -constructivist, collaborative, inquiry-based, integrative, and reflective -ensuring that teaching is cognitively rigorous, emotionally attuned, and learner-centred.Drawing on recent research in educational neuroscience, this article highlights how heart-brain coherence, stress reduction, and trust-building enhance classroom engagement and learning outcomes.The study reflects on real-life classroom experiences in Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Dept. of Modern Foreign Languages & Translation Studies) educational contexts during wartime, illustrating how trauma-sensitive, emotionally safe environments promote psychological resilience and communicative competence.Through the lens of peer teaching and learner reflections, the article demonstrates how NeuroHeart Education fosters agency, empathy, and critical thinking, transforming grammar learning and translation practice into meaningful, co-constructed experiences.The findings suggest that by incorporating brain-friendly strategies, educators can help students flourish in fluency, identity, social connection, and lifelong learning.The study concludes that emotionally intelligent pedagogy is no longer a pedagogical luxury but a necessity.Neuro-Heart Education, when aligned with Education 5.0 values, offers a robust, future-facing model that blends science and soul-guiding learners and educators toward resilience, fulfilment, and growth.