Enchanted by English Learning

VIDEO: WHY MOTIVATION?

2008-07-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

IMPORTANCE OF MOTIVATION

2008-07-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

TEACHER'S ROLE IN PROMOTING MOTIVATION :

The first step in tackling the problem of motivation is that the teachers need to understand and appreciate the role and importance of motivation in any learning. In the context of second language learning, William Littlewood (1987: 53) observes:

In second language learning as in every other field of human learning, motivation is the critical force which determines whether a learner embarks on a task at all, how much energy he devotes to it, and how long he perseveres. It is a complex phenomenon and includes many components: the individual’s drive, need for achievement and success, curiosity, desire for stimulation and new experience, and so on. These factors play a role in every kind of learning situation.

The teacher has to activate these motivational components in the students but that is the precise problem. How can it be done in every class everyday?

INTERESTING VIDEO ABOUT MOTIVATION AND LEARNING!!

2008-07-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

2008-07-05T13:20:00.001-07:00

MOTIVATION
By: Sandra
It is undeniable that motivation plays an important role in a classroom, specially when talking about teaching English as a second or foreign language. However, it is not as easy as it may seem and if students are not motivated it will be difficult to teach them successfully the target language. Some students seem naturally enthusiastic about learning, but many need or expect their instructors to inspire, challenge, and stimulate them: "Effective learning in the classroom depends on the teacher's ability ... to maintain the interest that brought students to the course in the first place" (Ericksen, 1978, p. 3).

Whatever level of motivation your students bring to the classroom will be transformed, for better or worse, by what happens in that classroom. Unfortunately, there is no single magical formula for motivating students. Many factors affect a given student's motivation to work and to learn (Bligh, 1971; Sass, 1989): interest in the subject matter, perception of its usefulness, general desire to achieve, self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as patience and persistence. And, of course, not all students are motivated by the same values, needs, desires, or wants. That is why I decided to search on this topic that concerns to the teachers of English as a second language and ESL learners. I found some useful links that will help you to understand some important characteristics of motivation at the moment of teaching:

http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistant-tips-student-motivation.htm http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/motivate.html http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/faqs/motivatingstudents/motivating.html