WHY WONT THEY TRY HARDER UNDERSTANDING AND BUILDING
WHY WON’T THEY TRY HARDER? !? UNDERSTANDING AND BUILDING STUDENT MOTIVATION Meagan Hair SDC 2014
MOTIVATION TOWARD WHAT GOAL? Internal vs. External Effort ---> Positive Outcome � Grades � Praise � Satisfaction Task vs. Performance � Be careful of competition
TASK MOTIVATION CONFIDENCE AUTONOMY
TASK MOTIVATION – CONFIDENCE Safe environment for risks & mistakes � ‘losing face’ Ø Group activities Ø Gentle corrections – mirroring Positive rapport with teacher � Enthusiasm, high expectations, interest Small tasks snowballing into larger ones Ø Easy warm-ups and cool-downs
TASK MOTIVATION – CONFIDENCE IN ENGLISH Appropriate difficulty level Ø Appropriate level of English & Japanese Ø JTE reinforces English Ø Questions vs. translation Variety of activities Ø Non-verbal learning styles Ø Drawing activities, movement activities, crafts
TASK MOTIVATION – AUTONOMY Student-led activities Ø Modeling meaning vs. translation Ø Miming, describing, etc. Ø Translation as a class Choice and personalization Ø Communicating personal ideas Ø Keeping a journal Ø Drawing & acting
TASK MOTIVATION – AUTONOMY IN ENGLISH English as a tool toward positive outcomes Real-life relevance � Creative thinking � Logic and problem-solving � Socialization and communication � Cultural awareness
EXAMPLE LESSON – WARM UP GAME CHEETA H
EXAMPLE LESSON – WARM UP GAME Confidence: � Simple � Non-verbal � No threat of losing face Autonomy: � Group cooperation � Self-policing
EXAMPLE LESSON – WHAT ANIMAL? 1. I have four legs and big teeth. 2. I eat meat. 3. I can run very fast. 4. I live together with my family. 5. I look like a dog, but I'm not a pet. A
EXAMPLE LESSON – WHAT ANIMAL? Confidence: � Appropriate vocabulary � Mimed meanings � No threat of losing face Autonomy: � Group cooperation & socialization � Allowing misspelling & one Japanese answer � Competition decreasing
EXAMPLE LESSON – ZOO PUZZLE
EXAMPLE LESSON – ZOO PUZZLE Confidence: � Natural increase in difficulty � Appropriate vocabulary and spelling provided � Visual component Autonomy: � Student-led translation Referring to pictures rather than translating No competition, only the task
EXAMPLE LESSON – ANIMAL SOUNDS
EXAMPLE LESSON – ANIMAL SOUNDS Confidence: � Take a break! � Japanese words � Teacher-student interaction Autonomy: � Real-life relevance Creative thinking & cultural awareness
EXAMPLE LESSON – RELEVANCE? Logic and problem-solving Cultural awareness Communication and positive social experience � It was “fun” Confidence and autonomy
CHOICE AND PERSONALIZATION Low vs. high academic level � Communication class, English Club Drawing � Warm up Animal game Halloween monsters � Combine with writing activities
TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD Example: United States Time: I want to go in September. Food: I want to eat cheeseburgers. Event: I will visit Niagra Falls. Souvenir: I will bring back American candy. India Time: ____________________________ Food: ____________________________ Event: ____________________________ Souvenir: __________________________
TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD - BACK India
SUMMARY Autonomy and confidence motivation Build from small tasks into challenging ones Always encourage student-led work � Game shows & quizzes are performance-based Socialization is its own reward Include non-verbal learners Encourage personalization and take interest
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK!
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