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WAYS OF INITIATING AND SUSTAINING MOTIVATION.
Not all language learning is particularly pleasant. “Not many students enjoy committing a list of vocabulary to memory or doing a long fill in exercises” (Lewis and Hill 1992:18). What is connected with it, there is a little likelihood that learners will be successful language learners if the lessons are not fun. Nevertheless, there are many ways to arouse students’ interests. As I earlier mentioned, there are three main groups of people who can have an impact on increasing learners’ motivation; however, the role of the teachers will be the most significant here, as they take the biggest part in the process of teaching and learning. It is of great importance to create in the classroom environment promoting interest and encouraging work. Some of the ways are creating pleasant atmosphere by being friendly to students, using sense of humour, etc.
Moreover, to enhance learners’ motivation, teachers should select involving and varied subjects and tasks, which would engage learners. Also, choice of materials and ways of using it is vital (Harmer 2001:53-54). While designing a task, the teacher should remember about the importance of personalisation. Students are usually more interested in activities that have to do with them and their lives: their own or each other’s opinions, tastes, experiences, suggestions. Generally saying, there are many elements that can be used during the lesson and which have appositive influence on learners’ motivation. Here are presented the most attracted ones.
1. Classroom management and atmosphere
Very often, teachers ignore such an important element of the lesson as classroom management. They do not realise how the physical atmosphere of the classroom and the seating arrangement can influence learners and their interest in the process of learning a foreign language. It is obvious that we do not always have possibility to choose the classroom we are going to work in. However, teachers, together with their learners, can do a lot about physical appearance and the mood of the place. Both of these elements can have “a powerful effect on initial and continuing motivation of students” (Harmer 2001:53).
From the very first lesson, learners’ motivation can be initiated only thanks to the pleasant and familiar surrounding and, in the case of an unattractive classroom their motivation can be decreased. Nevertheless, an unpleasant classroom can be made into a nicer and familiar one. With students’ help, teacher ...
