Herbert Puchta
About
About
Who is he?
Herbert Puchta is a teacher, researcher, international teacher trainer, and author. He holds a Ph.D. in ELT Pedagogy and he was for many years Professor of English at the Teacher Training University (Pädagogische Academy) in Graz, Austria. He is also a Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).
Professional life
For almost three decades, Herbert has done investigative research into the practical application of findings from cognitive psychology and brain research to the teaching of English as a foreign language. Amongst this prodigious output, perhaps the book that best captures the application of cognitive psychology to teaching and learning English is Teaching Young Learners to Think (2012), which he co-authored with Marion Williams.Herbert has been a plenary speaker at numerous international conferences and has given seminars and workshops for teachers in more than 50 countries. He was also President of IATEFL (2009-2010). Herbert has co-authored course books, resource books for teachers, graded readers and stories, as well as publishing articles related to foreign language teaching. In his work, he stresses the importance of the teacher’s role as an educator who respects the values inherent in teaching a foreign language as well as respecting their students’ beliefs, hearts, and minds in the process of learning.
Biographical sources
Social Profiles
Herbert Puchta
Recommended books
Teaching Languages to Young Learners
Lynne Cameron
This book offers valuable insights into the principles of child-centred teaching and what happens when it is applied in classrooms .
Teaching Young Language Learners. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Annamaria Pinter
The author provides an accessible, comprehensible overview of the issues surrounding the teaching of young learners.
The Routledge Handbook of Teaching English to Young Learners
Sue Garton, Fiona Copland (eds.)
The Routledge Handbook gives a comprehensive overview of the current state of teaching English to primary children – includes background research and practical advice.
Teacher Wellbeing
Sarah Mercer, Tammy Gregersen
Learner well-being is now a well-researched and written about topic in teaching English to all age groups. In this book, Sarah and Tammy look at the other, no less important, side of the coin – teacher wellbeing.
Carol Read’s 101 Tips for Teaching Primary Children
Carol Read
A wealth of very useful tips on the methodology of teaching English to children aged 6 – 12.
Place in HLT
Herbert Puchta’s valid and most crucial contributions to humanism in language teaching revolve around the way in which he has applied his professional interest in cognitive psychology, brain research and linguistics to the reality of language classrooms, as well as developing and giving teachers creative tools for to activate learners’ minds and hearts in the process of learning. His teaching ideas and materials help to involve the whole person in the act of learning by playing on one’s innate creativity, emotions and motivation. His inspirational publications and webinars on fostering creativity, self-respect and motivation in language learners across all age groups have been appreciated by teachers all over the world.
