From emotion to acquisition: A bibliometric overview of social emotional learning in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research

Abstract

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research on the relationship between Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Second Language Acquisition (SLA). It explores publication trends, emerging research themes, influential authors, and geographical contributions to the growing intersection of emotional learning and language acquisition. A systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ERIC identified peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers published between 2000 and 2025. The findings reveal a growing body of work emphasizing SEL’s role in enhancing SLA outcomes, particularly through emotional factors such as language anxiety, motivation, and learner engagement. Key contributors include the United States, United Kingdom, and China, with leading scholars such as Zoltán Dörnyei, Patricia A. Alexander, and Lauri R. MacIntyre. Keyword co-occurrence analysis highlights central themes including emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and classroom engagement. This analysis offers insights into how SEL strategies support emotional resilience and language learning while identifying directions for future research across diverse cultural and digital learning environments.