Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador

Instituto Pedagógico de Caracas

Departamento de Idiomas Modernos
Cátedra: Metodología de los Procesos de la Enseñanza del Inglés
Estudiante: América Velásquez – Caracas, 10 de marzo de 2020

Debate about ‘Motivation’

"Without motivation there is no learning"

“Experiences lived in class will be your companions throughout your life”
"A student in class is a criminal less in the streets"
“Give your students the chance to shine”
What is the motivation?
Motivation is a fundamental aspect in the learning process. Since, it is the starting point for the student to open
its mind to new knowledge. For this reason, teachers should concern about preparing their students for new challenges,
in which they can achieve their goals and prepare for their integral development. Therefore, one of the most difficult
aspects of teachers is to motivate their students, but it is also one of the most important because an unmotivated
student does not learn effectively, does not listen, does not effort, loses interest, will not retain information, will not
participate in activities and even some of them can be harmful to class development.

Reasons why the students may not be motivated. They:

- May feel that the subject is not interesting for them.
- Find that the teacher's methods are not attractive for them.
- Distract themselves with external circumstances.
- Even may be that in reality the student has difficulty learning and needs special attention.

Keys to motivate students and help them to learn.

1) Associates class activities with the interests of the students.
That means, you should look for something that catch their attention and stimulate their interest. It can be a
specific topic, a learning method. For that, it is necessary that you listen and meet your students and discover their
interests.

2) Encourage them to participate in classes without fear of being wrong.

Students should be encouraged to participate freely in their classes and they must be involved in the learning
process without being afraid of making mistakes.

3) Focus the content from practice.

Connect them with real life. Then, they are able to see the effectiveness of what you are learning. This will
strengthen what has been learned in a more useful way.

4) Practice positive reinforcement.

Unmotivated students may also feel disappointed and frustrated because it is difficult for them to keep up with
the class. Help them maintain a positive attitude. Be interested in his mood.

6) Awakens the curiosity of the students.

Allow them to ask questions, for instance, teamwork is a great option for that, interacting with other colleagues
can help them increase their motivation.

7) Use games and activities to make classes more fun.

Thus, the students will see and feel your classes as a pleasant "refuge" and not as a "dark cave".

8) Introduce variety in class organization

Do not bore students with the same monotony.
9) Give prominence to students.
It is recommended that students participate in the class. Students should be able to ask and give their opinion
without fear, without feeling self-conscious. Effective feedback over time, where everyone can contribute something,
will make classes more enjoyable and will make to feel the students more confidence themselves.

Links to find information

https://teach.com/what/teachers-change-lives/motivating-students/

https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/

https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/affective/motivation.html

https://www.readandspell.com/what-motivates-students-to-learn

https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/how-keep-your-students-motivated

Questions

1) What do you understand by motivation?

2) Is the motivation of the teacher important for the students and why?

3) To what extent is the teacher interested in the student being motivated?

4) How could students be motivated in class and what strategies would you use to do it?

5) What are the consequences of an unmotivated student in class?

6) Can ‘bullying’ be considered a form of motivation?

7) Should ‘fun’ in class be understood as a means of motivation and at what point would it become ‘disorder’ or ‘trust
taking’?

8) Could an unmotivated teacher with personal problems motivate students?

Conclusion

Even though motivating students can be an arduous and sometimes difficult task for teachers and although this
will take some of your time, the rewards will be amazing. Motivated students are more excited to learn and participate
in classes. The experience of a class full of motivated students is enjoyable for both teachers and students. Some
students, motivate themselves with a natural love for learning, but others need the help of a good teacher to make their
learning fun and necessary. In addition to that, they need a good teacher to inspire them, to reach their full potential.
The reward for you as a teacher will be an experience that will last a lifetime. It worth it!

Reflective activity.
Read and answer the following questions. Do not use teacher names. Be specific and honest in your answers.

1) What school event has marked your learning and will you remember with pleasure in the coming years?

2) What happened in that event that you remember so clearly?

3) List 2 special qualities of your BEST teacher.

4) List 2 special qualities of your FAVORITE teacher.

5) Imagine you will wake up tomorrow and YOU are the teacher. What good ideas would you bring to your class room
that you have learned from your teachers?