Learners Motivation

By Imola Beata Pal

The definition of the word motivation is the force that initiates, drives and guides one to achieve
certain goals. There are three major components to motivation: activation, persistence and intensity that
are accompanying the process from the start (the thought of beginning an activity) by solving the
problems of the said activity to the goal.

!otivation can be self"induced or coming from an e#ternal source. $n case of learning in general or a
language it can be both at the same time. %or a learner it provides the how, why they undergo the
process of learning.
&
'lso, there are three layers of motivation:
Finding your passion ( why you would li)e to learn
Changing your reality how to use different materials (audio"visual materials, course boo)s,
etc.) to improve your progress by introducing them to the day by day life
Connecting to learning activities how to use personal e#periences to connect to the subject
*

' great deal of +%, learners needs motivation. -esearch from all over the world indicate that
motivation can be the driving force of +%, learners overcoming the environmental differences and the
lac) of proper +nglish input in their everyday life
.
. /ne of the main aims of a teacher should be to
motivate students
0
. This they can accomplish by:
giving positive, but realistic, feedbac) (praise) and e#plaining where they need to improve
further
ma)ing the learning environment and process more interesting by using au#iliary and1or
authentic materials (short videos, songs, games, etc. )
helping students find topics to which they can connect with their personal e#periences
involving everyone in the activities
maintaining the content of teaching slightly above their current level of language abilities to
challenge them
ma)ing them feel li)e they belong to the group
supporting learners and giving a certain level of autonomy by letting them choose some
activities
letting them have a personal opinion even if that differs from the one given by the subject
2y finding out a student3s or students3 personal reason to learn +nglish, you can find the best way to
motivate and help them. ' few e#amples of different )inds +%, learners and how teachers should
motivate these students. 4tudents that are motivated by:
li)ening +nglish as a language and1or culture ( these )inds of students are curious and have a
thirst for )nowledge. They often have interesting 5uestions and are )een on obtaining their
answers. 6ou can motivate them by bringing e#tra materials on the target subject and bringing
your personal e#perience into the activities
higher wages at their wor)place ( business students are often interested in alternative subjects
besides business language, you can initiate other )inds of small tal) with them that is usual in
business
the need of communicate day by day ( they need to be familiar with common subjects, to
motivate them you stage scenes which they might have e#perience with
' teacher needs to ma)e learning fun and captivating for motivating students to wor) harder to
obtain positive results.
.http:11psychology.about.com1od1minde#1g1motivation"definition.htm
&.-ost, !ichael Generating Student Motivation, 4eries +ditor of 7or)d8iew (www.longman.com1worldview) p..
*.-ost, !ichael Generating Student Motivation, 4eries +ditor of 7or)d8iew (www.longman.com1worldview) p.&"*.
..-ost, !ichael Generating Student Motivation, 4eries +ditor of 7or)d8iew (www.longman.com1worldview) p..
0.9armer, :., How to teach English, ,ongman &;;<, p &;.
-eference:
9armer, :., How to teach English, ,ongman &;;<, p &;"&.
9armer, :., The Practice of English Language Teaching, =earson +ducation ,imited &;;<, %ourth +dition, p >?";..
Bibliography:
9armer, :. How to teach English, ,ongman &;;<
9armer, :. The Practice of English Language Teaching, =earson ,imited &;;<, %orth +dition
-ost, !ichael Generating Student Motivation, 4eries +ditor of 7or)d8iew
(www.longman.com1worldview)
http:11psychology.about.com1od1minde#1g1motivation"definition.htm