Motivating students

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MOTIVATING STUDENTS Motivation is an essential factor affecting learning, in some classes weaker learners are often those with least motivation. Their motivation is often reduced further by the sense of failure as they find the subject difficult and make little progress. Successful learners, on the other hand, are those who are more motivated from the beginning and their sense of success further motivates them. It is therefore very important that the teacher works on motivating all the students. For many students, the main reason for studying English is that it is part of the school syllabus. This is not very motivating as a reason in itself. Some students, those with English-speaking family, for example, may have more positive reasons for learning. It is up to the teacher then to try to motivate his/her students, to show them that English is not “just another school subject” and also to show them that it is interesting and relevant to them. It should also be remembered that enjoyment can be a powerful motivator.

How useful is English? Raising students’ awareness of just how much English there is around them, how many people speak English, and how much English they have already met can increase motivation.

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Proper names The students list names of:   

Bands or singers they like who sing in English Famous English-speaking people (sportsmen, politicians, writers, movie stars, etc.) Movies and TV programs they have seen

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Countries The students find out which countries have English as a first language. Alternatively, provide a map with the countries marked on and get the students to name them. 4


English around me The students bring any examples of English texts they can find, e.g. food wrappers, names of stores or movies, titles or words of pop songs, instructions on domestic appliances. They make a wall poster or make a page in their own files or notebooks. This can be added to as the students find more examples.

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English and my language The students brainstorm all the words they already know which are used in both their language and in English, eg. hotel, taxi, cafe, bar, pizza, TV, radio. Provide picture prompts to help students. Again this can be made into a wall poster or a page in the students’ own notebooks.

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Words I already know As an extension or alternative to the above activity the students can brainstorm all the English words they already know, e.g. love, hard rock, music, tea.


English and jobs Get the students to put a list of jobs in order of how important English is to each one. Get them to compare and justify their ideas in groups. The students can do this in their mother tongue but using the English names for the jobs:

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Exercise Now, it’s your turn to write ideas based on the mental map at the beginning of this text. 1. Topic: Creating an English environment. Do you use any of the ideas given? Do they help in creating an English environment in your classroom? Why?

2. Topic: Creating a good atmosphere. What do you do to help promote a good learning atmosphere in your classes? Make a list of things that you do in order to create a sense of group cohesion and a positive learning atmosphere in your classes.

Reference: Tice, J. (1997). The mixed ability class. London: Richmond publishing.

Material adapted by Juan Anastacio Escobedo DĂ­az

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