Emotional Intelligence in the English Learning Process: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review
Abstract
Even though cognitive and technical skills are essential factors when learning a new language, emotional intelligence plays an increasingly important role. Publications from Scopus and Web of Science from 2015 to September 2025 were considered in this review, which starts with a bibliometric analysis of 1224 articles to identify the dynamic and thematic evolution as well as the trends in the study of emotional intelligence in the English learning process. Then, following the PRISMA guideline, 52 articles were selected to know the methodologies and sample used and to recognize the thematic categories they covered. Findings show there is a growth of scientific publications with a higher preference for empirical research over theoretical foundations. The analysis shows a predominance for quantitative principles and university students over qualitative research and school students, which remain understudied. The analysis also presents five categories linking emotional intelligence to English learning.
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Published 2026-10-01
Keywords
- Emotional intelligence,
- English as a foreign language,
- Learning process
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Section
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