Motivation an invaluable tool for learning English [Archives:2005/886/Education]
BY HASSAN BAUDHAN
[email protected]
UNIVERSITY OF SEYOUN
If we examine the causes of our EFL students' weakness in English we will find their lack of motivation to be the primay factor for the impasse. If we ask students whether they like English or not, most of them reflect negative attitudes and only a few of them seem interested in this subject. Students cannot be blamed for this lack of interest to learn English as they do not find someone to make teaching of English interesting to them. One effective way to create interest in the learner is to motivate them. Motivation can manifest in different forms. Students,for example, nurture ambition, to get a lucrative job. They need incentives, encouraging words, use of modern teaching aids, which can facilitate their learning this language. All students should have a positive attitude towards this language and a desire to learn it. One can not grasp a piece of information unless he is interested in. Unfortunately, a significant segment of students do not find a suitable guide to show them the right route and enhance their motivation. Any work to be accomplished needs a strong aspiration and plenty of enthusiasm which can be achieved through motivation.
University students are supposed to be conscious of their personal benefits as a result of learning English and should generate the drive for achieving this from within . However, they need to be motivated by those around them too, namely parents and teachers. In the latter case, the teacher can play this role inside the class and the parents can do their part at home. Certainly, incentives, encouraging words and, positive feedback can go a long way in this respect.
Researches confirm that highly motivated students learn faster. But many teachers see no value for motivation for students. Definitely this is wrong.
Motivations can be divided into two major kinds: internal, and external, the former being more powerful than the latter. The former type of motivation comes from within. while the latter comes from outside. Students have different purposes in learning English,such as getting a lucrative job, understanding English movies or news, using Internet or computer, or dealing with people at work. A few of them learn to interact with people.
As has been said earlier, internal, and external motivations are essential for students' progress in English. In addition, students themselves, teachers and parents concerned can play a significant role in instilling motivation into the learners.
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