SOME TECHNIQUES TO MOTIVATE PUPILS

1. Pre-teach key language points

Aims: This activity can be used to

- equip pupils with important language to understand the text.
- lead and motivate pupils to learn about the focused topic.
- guide pupils to pronounce the words correctly, so they can read the whole text
accurately.
Procedure:
- Step 1: Have pupils settle down for the lesson
- Step 2: Show pupils key language points of the text together with hints for the meaning
and form
- Step 3: Elicit what they know and guess
- Step 4: Confirm correct guesses and correct wrong ones
- Step 5: Link to the reading text
This is only a general procedure; there could be variations of the activity.
Pros:
- Pupils become more confident and motivated to read the text.
Cons:
- Some younger pupils may find it difficult to remember all words at first. Reassure them
that they do not need to remember everything immediately because they have other tasks
which facilitate their understanding and memorizing words.

2. Use visual clues

Aims: This activity can be used to

- equip pupils with some background knowledge and vocabulary to understand the
text.
- lead and motivate pupils to learn about the focused topic.
Procedure:
- Step 1: Have pupils settle down for the lesson
- Step 2: Show pupils some visual clues about the text content (e.g. pictures illustrating
events in a story, flashcards, etc)
- Step 3: Elicit their guess of the text content (e.g. arranging pictures in the order of
events; categorizing flashcards by the information type, etc), depending on the text
genre
- Step 4: Link to the reading text (e.g. asking them to read to confirm their guess)
This is only a general procedure; there could be variations of the activity.
Pros:
- Pupils become more confident and motivated to read the text.
- Pupils improve their imagination and creativity.
Cons:
- Some pupils may not understand the visual clues, so they are unable to predict the text
content. Asking them to work in groups can help crowd-sourcing, or utilizing all
members’ ideas.

3. Hold competitions

Aims: This activity can be used to

- motivate pupils to participate in learning activities.
- identify pupils’ ongoing improvement.
Procedure:
* Reading
- Step 1: Have pupils settle down for the lesson
- Step 2: Ask them to work in groups and do the reading task
- Step 3: Collect their answers in various ways (e.g. collecting all answers and marking;
conducting a class check in which groups take turn to read their answer for each
individual question)
- Step 4: Award the prize to winning teams
*Writing
- Step 1: Have pupils settle down for the lesson
- Step 2: Ask them to do the writing task
- Step 3: Ask them to stick their individual products on the wall
- Step 4: Ask all class members to go around and put their given star on the writing
they like best
- Step 5: Award prizes to writers with the most stars
This is only a general procedure; there could be variations of the activity.
Pros:
- Pupils become more motivated in their learning.
- Low-level students can work with better ones and learn from them.
Cons:
- Some low-level pupils may feel discouraged or shy. Giving positive feedback and
encouragement can help.