THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: COGNITIVE, MOTIVATIONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES

Learning a foreign language is a dynamic process influenced by cognitive, emotional, and social factors. Psychological theories provide valuable insights into how language learners process, retain, and apply linguistic knowledge. This article explores various aspects, including the role of psychology in language learning, memory mechanisms, cognitive thinking, motivation, and social interaction. The analysis focuses on Krashen's Affective Filter hypothesis, Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) concept, and Gardner's motivation theory, examining their impact on teaching methodologies. The findings indicate that enhancing language proficiency in the classroom requires the implementation of interactive teaching methods and motivational strategies. Integrating psychological principles into the learning process allows educators to structure foreign language instruction more effectively, clearly, and engagingly