“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
One of the most important factors that leads us to achieve anything in life is motivation, and nowhere is that more important than in the classroom. While some students are naturally eager to learn, though, others need – or expect – their teachers to inspire, challenge, and stimulate them. For those teachers, motivating a student is perhaps the greatest challenge they face. The question is: How can they teach language skills so to motivate their students and make them become more interested in learning the language?
Whatever level of motivation your students bring to the classroom will be transformed, for better or worse, by what happens in that classroom: “Effective learning in the classroom depends on the teacher’s ability to maintain the interest that brought students to the course in the first place” (Ericksen, 1978, p. 3). There are, however, no magical formulas to achieve this due to the many factors which affect a given student’s motivation to work and to learn.
Motivation is a key factor in students’ success at every stage of their education, and teachers play a pivotal role in providing and encouraging it. Of course, that is much easier said than done, as all students are motivated differently and it takes time and a lot of effort to learn to get a classroom full of students enthusiastic about learning, working hard, and pushing themselves to excel. For that reason, providing motivation is a skill that all teachers must develop. Here are some practical ways for teachers to practice that skill and motivate their students:
Be enthusiastic about your subject
A teacher’s enthusiasm is a crucial factor in student motivation. If students see that their teacher is happy to be in the classroom and excited about teaching them, they will learn by example. Therefore, share your enthusiasm and passion for your subject. Enthusiasm and passion are contagious. Your positive energy leads to the students becoming more motivated as a positive attitude is a must for a successful learning atmosphere. When you are excited about teaching, they will be much more excited about learning. This is one of the best ways to get your students motivated.
Create a pleasant, relaxed and enjoyable environment
A classroom is a great place for learning, but sitting at a desk day in day out can make school seem a bit dull for some students. Move around and interact with your students. The first step to creating a friendly learning environment for your students is to know them better. Getting to know your students is about more than just memorizing their names. It means understanding their needs, desires and interests.
When students feel appreciated, it creates a safe learning environment and motivates them to work harder as they will appreciate praise and positive feedback from someone they feel knows and respects them as individuals. Furthermore, the classroom can always benefit from fun activities such as group games. When students are having fun, they will pay attention and focus on the work that is required of them rather seeing the lesson as a boring chore.
Use achievable and relevant materials
It is essential for you to know what the most effective approach to teaching the language is and what activities are suitable for a given group of learners. The teaching material must be relevant to the students. You should make the materials inclusive enough to reach the all levels of student ability.
When students feel the task at hand is achievable, they will work more diligently towards finishing it. Ensure opportunities for students’ success by assigning tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult. When you create a safe, supportive environment for students, affirming their belief in their own abilities rather than laying out the consequences of not doing things, students are much more likely to get and stay motivated to learn.
Have high but attainable expectations for your students
Research has shown that a teacher’s expectations have a powerful effect on a student’s performance. If you act as though you expect your students to be motivated, hardworking, and interested in the course, they are more likely to be so. Set realistic expectations for students when you make assignments, give presentations, conduct discussions, and grade examinations, making sure that you give positive feedback. “Realistic expectations” means that your standards are high enough to motivate students to do their best work, but not so high that students will be frustrated in trying to meet those expectations. To develop the drive to achieve, students need to believe that achievement is possible – which means that you need to provide early opportunities for success.
Help students set achievable goals for themselves
Failure to attain unrealistic goals can disappoint and frustrate students. Encourage students to focus on their continued improvement, not just on their grade on any one test or assignment. Help students evaluate their progress by encouraging them to critique their own work, analyze their strengths, and work on their weaknesses.
Vary teaching methods
A teacher must be creative and flexible. It is not worth going to a class where the teacher simply follows a few notes or a text to the letter, simply reading it. Let each class be a new adventure: it is about avoiding boredom and routine. You may be accustomed to classes in which students are mere listeners, passive receivers of knowledge. Students learn effectively by doing, constructing, designing, creating and solving; learning improves when the student is forced to use multiple abilities. For instance, ask questions in the classroom. Do not tell students something when you can ask them. Leave blank parts on transparencies in critical areas, where students have to think. Do not give the complete topic.
Encourage students to suggest approaches to a problem or to guess the results of an experiment. In this way, they become accustomed to thinking for themselves. Also remember, though, that you should respond clearly to your students’ questions using appropriate examples which are understandable and concrete. If they still don’t understand, you have to think of another way so as not to lose the energy of the class. Each lesson must be clear and interesting, with a lot of different activities. It should go from a writing exercise, to a speaking session, then to a listening practice, again back to writing to ensure students do not lose interest. In order to keep all students motivated, mix up your lessons so that students with different learning preferences will each get a period of time focused on the wat they like learning. Doing so will help students stay engaged and pay attention.
Make students active participants in learning
It is extremely important for students to feel that they are valued members of a learning community. They are more likely to learn by doing, making, writing, designing, creating, solving than just by listening to a lecture. When students participate in a lesson, they are more interested in it. So vary the routine by incorporating a variety of teaching activities and methods in your course: role playing, debates, brainstorming, discussion, demonstrations, case studies, audiovisual presentations or group work. As a result, students will be actively involved in the learning process.
Additionally, allow students to work together. They find it fun trying to solve problems and work on projects with other students. The social interaction can get them excited about things in the classroom and students can motivate one another to reach a goal. Ensure that groups are balanced and fair, however, so that some students are not doing more work than others.
Give students a sense of control and responsibility
Assigning students classroom jobs is a great way to build a community and to give students a sense of motivation. Most students will see classroom jobs as a privilege rather than a burden and will work hard to ensure that they, and other students, are meeting expectations. It can also be useful to allow students to take turns leading activities or helping out so that each feels important and valued. Allowing students to have some choice and control over what happens in the classroom is actually one of the best ways to keep them engaged. For example, letting students choose the type of assignment they do or which problems to work on gives them a sense of control that usually motivates them to do more.
Work from students’ strengths and interests
Knowing your students has many benefits, one of the most important being that it allows you to relate classroom material to things that students are interested in or have experienced. You can use these interests to make things more interesting and relatable to students, keeping students motivated for longer. Find out your students interests, how they feel about the subject matter, and what their expectations are. Then try to devise examples, case studies, or assignments that relate the course content to students’ interests and experiences. Explain how the content and objectives of your course will help students achieve their educational, professional, or personal goals.
Be caring and supportive
Students must feel the teacher is caring and supportive, and that he/she respects their values and opinions. Teachers must be kind and helpful to the students, and be patient when they do not understand. A caring teacher tries to develop a relationship of trust with the students so as they can rely on him/her. When students realize that they are able to communicate with their teacher, this communication fuels a desire to learn and participate. And, of course, teachers must offer equal support to all levels of learners.
Strengthen students’ self-confidence
Research has shown that students are more affected by positive feedback and success. Praise builds students’ self-confidence, competence, and self-esteem. Recognize sincere efforts of your student. If a student’s performance is weak, let the student know that you believe he or she can improve and succeed over time. Explain where the student needs to improve, but also praise areas where the student is doing well. Always congratulate students for doing something correctly; it will give them confidence in themselves, the subject and the teacher. Give the student his/her dignity and he/she will reward you with his/her effort. Students, even the best ones, can become frustrated when they feel like they are struggling or not getting the same recognition as other students. Make sure that all students get a chance to play to their strengths and feel included and valued. It can make a world of difference to their motivation.
Be specific when giving negative feedback
Negative feedback is very powerful and can lead to a negative class atmosphere. Whenever you identify a student’s weakness, make it clear that your comments relate to a particular task or performance, not to the student as a person. Try to cushion negative comments with a compliment about aspects of the task in which the student succeeded. Avoid demeaning comments. Many students in your class may be anxious about their performance and abilities. Be sensitive as to how you phrase your comments and avoid offhand remarks that might inadvertently create feelings of inadequacy. Comments to students can be made, but never in a pejorative way. Never ridicule a student in public. In that case, the student, instead of directing his/her energy to learning, will dedicate it to antagonistic feelings directed at the teacher, the lesson and even the school. Always find a private time to talk to the student.
Without a doubt, motivation is a key aspect of the whole educational process. As an important part of student achievement, motivation is required as a commitment to learning. Motivated students are more receptive, learn better, and, as a result, learn more. If the teachers want students to learn, they must create the necessary conditions that promote motivation. Teachers must be familiar with a range of practical motivational strategies, as well as the means to implement them in the classroom, because when students are motivated, they learn in the best possible way.
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