Zoltán Dörnyei

Zoltán Dörnyei ([ˈzoltaːn ˈdørɲɛi]) (born 1960) is a Hungarian-born British linguist. He is a professor of psycholinguistics at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. He is known for his work on second language acquisition and the psychology of the language learner, in particular on motivation in second language learning, having published numerous books and papers on these topics.

Education

Dörnyei obtained a combined Master of Arts degree in English language and literature and in art history in 1985 at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. His dissertation was entitled Art dealing in Hungary before 1945.

In 1989 he received a PhD degree in Psycholinguistics at the Eötvös Loránd University and his thesis was entitled Psycholinguistic factors in foreign language learning.

In 2003 he earned a D.Sc. in Linguistics at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Between 2008 and 2010 he conducted part-time undergraduate studies in Theology at St John's College, Nottingham.

In 2011 he obtained an MA degree in Theology and Religious Studies at the Department of Theology of the University of Nottingham. The title of his dissertation was Transfiguration, beauty and biblical interpretation. In 2017 he received a Ph.D. degree in Theology at the Department of Theology and Religion of Durham University. The title of his thesis was Progressive creation and the struggles of humankind in the Bible: An experiment in canonical narrative interpretation.

Teaching

He began his career at the School of English and American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University in 1988. In 1998, he moved to the United Kingdom and after two years at Thames Valley University, London, he took up a position at the School of English, University of Nottingham, where he is currently Professor of Psycholinguistics.

• 1994: Gombócz Zoltán Award of the Hungarian Association of Linguists
• 1998: Distinguished Research Award of the American TESOL Organization (co-author: Kathleen Bardovi-Harlig)
• 1999: Kenneth W. Mildenberger Prize of the Modern Language Association
• 2006: ILTA Best Paper Award
• 2010: Ben Warren International House Trust Prize
• 2011: Henry Osborn Award of Cornerstone University, USA
• 2014: Highly Commended Award of the English-Speaking Union's HRH The Duke of Edinburgh English Language Book Awards

• Dörnyei, Z. (2020). Innovations and challenges in language learning motivation. London: Routledge.
• Mercer, S., & Dörnyei, Z. (2020). Engaging language learners in contemporary classrooms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2020). Vision, mental imagery and the Christian life: Insights from science and Scripture. London: Routledge.
• Dörnyei, Z (2018). Progressive creation and humanity’s struggles in the Bible: A canonical narrative interpretation. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.
• Dörnyei, Z., Henry, A., & Muir, C. (2016). Motivational currents in language learning: Frameworks for focused interventions. New York: Routledge.
• Dörnyei. Z., & Ryan, S. (2015). The psychology of the language learner revisited. New York: Routledge.
• Dörnyei. Z., MacIntyre, P., & Henry, A. (Eds.) (2015). Motivational dynamics in language learning. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
• Dörnyei. Z., & Kubanyiova, M. (2014). Motivating students, motivating teachers: Building vision in the language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Wong, M. S., Kristjánsson, C., & Dörnyei, Z. (Eds.). (2013). Christian faith and English language teaching and learning: Research on the interrelationship of religion and ELT. New York: Routledge.
• Dörnyei, Z. & Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and researching motivation (2nd ed.). Harlow: Longman.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2010). Questionnaires in second language research: Construction, administration, and processing (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2009). The psychology of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Dörnyei, Z., & Ushioda, E. (Eds.). (2009). Motivation, language identity and the L2 self. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Dörnyei, Z., Csizér, K., & Németh, N. (2006). Motivation, language attitudes and globalisation: A Hungarian perspective. Clevedon, England: Multilingual Matters.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2005). The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
• Dörnyei, Z., & Murphey, T. (2003). Group dynamics in the language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Motivational strategies in the language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Ehrman, M., & Dörnyei, Z. (1998). Interpersonal dynamics in second language education: The visible and invisible classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.