Motivation in language learning and teaching

Mehmet Ali Seven

African Educational Research Journal
Published: October 22 2020
Volume 8, Special Issue 2
Pages S62-S71
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30918/AERJ.8S2.20.033

Abstract

People have several different reasons to learn a foreign language; people often learn a language for practical reasons while others have a particular love for the language and its people. Language teachers are often very aware of the career benefits that language proficiency can offer, but learning the language is just an abstract undertaking needed for an academic degree to many language learners. Motivation and management of our own behaviour are necessary for effective learning. It is not easy, for example, to lose weight or quit smoking. Nonetheless, many people do well, lose weight and quit smoking because they are motivated to accomplish a particular goal. The purpose of learning is to find and apply the most effective way. If a teacher has a strong methodology and motivation, he will achieve his goal. The primary duty of the teacher is to give his students adequate encouragement. People do not learn a subject with their brains alone; other factors are also involved. Motivational factors make the learner more receptive to new information. Students do not learn in the same way. Different students learn in different ways; some students learn by listening, some by writing and some by actively speaking. If a teacher adopts the same method for all students, then some students will not be able to learn anything. In order to keep students interested in learning, students must be motivated by the teacher.

Keywords: Motivation, motivational theories, language learning and teaching, motivation in learning and teaching.

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