TEFL - LEARNER MOTIVATION WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS

What is intrinsic motivation? The urge to learn for one's own sake, enjoyment, accomplishment. Driven by personal achievement. What is extrinsic motivation? From external incentives, rewards, successes e.g a qualification requiring a high score. What are the key elements of motivation to remember? 1. Be motivated to motivate them. 2. Everyone can me motivated. 3. Motivation should be multi-directional. 4. Motivation doesn't last. 5. The whole person comes to school. How is motivation multi-directional? Motivation isn't your only role. Also need to motivate colleagues who can help if you are struggling. Why might some students be demotivated? Find the work too hard. Don't like noise and large classes. Not convinced by the communicative approach. How can you ensure students stay motivated? Ensure lessons have clear goals. Vary activities. Personalise activities for students. Give ongoing feedback. How can the teacher influence and drive learner motivation? (11 reasons) 1. Make them aware of their own success. 2. Set clear goals. 3. Explain purpose and usefulness. 4. Vary classroom topics and tasks. 5. Employ visuals. 6. Generate tension and challenge. 7. Create a fun atmosphere. 8. Personalise learning. 9. Create open-ended exercises. 10. Give students a sense of autonomy. 11. Assess students. How can assessments impact motivation? Regular formal assessments are a powerful motivator. Learners more motivated to study if they see a use e.g achieving higher grade. Make sure assessment has clear purpose and don't attach too much stress. What are ways you can give students a sense of autonomy? Have them pick from list of topics to debate. Have them find partners with whom they want to team up with in activity or game. How can you create open-ended exercises to increase motivation? Use cues which invite a number of responses. (There is more stimulation with more than one right answer). How can you create a fun atmosphere? Keep students entertained. Produce stories, songs, jokes, dramatic presentations. Use movies, documentaries, music. Role-play and engage imagination. BUT avoid bringing students up to the front of the class to 'perform' spontaneously. How can you generate tension and challenge? Game-like activities have a 'fun' goal but still have limitations and language rules. How can you make learners aware of their own success? Use ticks, nods, smiles, explicit affirmation, positive comments on work. What seven characteristic distinguish an effective learner? 1. They use the language outside the classroom. 2. Study like detectives. 3. Know the language is used to communicate. 4. Try to figure out how the language works. 5. Grasp all opportunities to learn. 6. Take responsibility for their learning. 7. Find a style of learning that suits them. How may an effective learner take responsibility for their learning? Create opportunities to use the language outside class. Practice. Willing to take risks and appear foolish. Why are effective learners beneficial to a classroom? You can use them in pair and group work to strengthen and influence other learners. (Don't single them out!). What is the plateau effect? A 'learning plateau' occurs when forward progress stops as a student is learning a new skill. Can be both real and perceived. Tends to happen at intermediate level as lessons get harder. In what 6 ways can you support plateauing students? 1. Explain the plateau effect. 2. Encourage them to take risks. 3. Get them to embrace their failure. 4. Be an honest mentor. 5. Get them back to basics. 6. Help them to think long-term. How can you explain the plateau effect to an affected learner? Explain it is natural in any process to ease their concerns. Show language learning is not linear. Help learners visualise where they can expect highs and lows in a normal language learning curve.