The purpose of this paper is to reflect on changes of beliefs about language teaching and learning on the part of both teachers and students based on recent research in the field of Applied Linguistics. In the first part of the article, I discuss briefly the concept of belief with respect to language learning and teaching and point to recent trends in the specialized literature. In the second section, I examine the notion of change as well as factors related to it, particularly context and action. In the third, I focus specifically on belief change and examine the following questions: (a) What is change?; (b) Is it possible to change beliefs?; (c) If change is possible, how can beliefs be changed?; and (d) What are the factors that favor or hinder changes in beliefs? Finally, I conclude, on one hand, with implications for teaching and learning foreign languages and for research; on the other, with regard to the analysis and change of teacher and learner beliefs.
beliefs; change; teacher education