Learner Characteristics

What are learner characteristics? Learner characteristics include a learners’ Motivation Learning styles Learning strategies Maturity (grown up physically, mentally and emotionally) Past language learning experience

Motivation Motivation is one of the most challenging areas when we are teaching teenagers English

What is motivation It is thought and feelings we have which make us want to do something, continue to want to do it and turn our wishes into action.

Importance of motivation “A student’s willingness, need, desire and compulsion to participate in, and be successful in, the learning process” (Bomia et al., 1997, p.1) Less motivated or disengaged students, on the other hand, “ are passive, do not try hard, and give up easily in the face of challenges” ( Skinner & Belmont, 1991, p. 4)

Nothing worse than going into a class full of people who don’t really want to be there Teenagers probably don’t have much say about being in your classroom Parents pay and have a higher level of motivation to ensure learning succeeds

Why were you motivated to learn English?

Overseas studying Proficiency test Communication with foreigners Traveling Better jobs Research Show off Online games

Do teenagers have ability to see the future or to understand whether their English is or is not improving? We need to encourage immediate motivation. This motivation must come from the task we as a class are doing at the present time.

Think it about for a moment— A highly motivated group of students is usually going to be easier to teach.

Key concepts Learners may have strong motivation in an area and little in another. Motivation can change. Different learners will be motivated in different ways. Motivation can change with age too. Motivation needs to be created and continued.

Types of motivation Extrinsic Intrinsic Engaging in behavior to attain a reward or to avoid a punishment form and external source. Intrinsic Engaging in behavior out of curiosity, sense challenge and an internal sense of gratification.

Research on student motivation Over-reliance on extrinsic motivators can decrease achievement and student perceptions of motivation Greater intrinsic motivation is associated with Higher achievement Higher confidence Longer retention of concepts

What are the reasons for lack of motivation and enthusiasm? Lack of failure in the past             Lack of faith in the ability                Low self-esteem                      Lack of enough interest Fear of what others might say        Laziness Being too stressed or nervous      Being too stressed or nervous No awareness of importance and usefulness of the English or goal Absence of enough stimuli or incentives.

Fun Lesson Element The importance of planning Giving praise Reinforce and repeat with fun activities Vary your material Be consistent in your approach

Factors influencing motivation The usefulness of knowing the language well Interest in the target language culture Feeling good about learning the language Self-confidence=feeling that we can do things successfully Learner autonomy/independence=feeling responsible for and in control of our learning

More factors Encouragement and support from others: parents, teachers, classmates, school, society Interest in the learning process: the interest and relevance to us of the course content, classroom activities, teacher’s personality, teaching methods.

Effective teachers will make sure that students know WHY they need to learn the language that is the target of the day’s lesson

These reasons stifle motivation and enthusiasm, and are only excuses for not acting. However, we learn to overcome and disregard them, by becoming aware of them, acknowledging them, and understanding that we can change the programming of our mind.

Resources for planning activities http://www.global-english.com/tipsfromthetop.htm http://www.eslpartyland.com/teachers/nov/music.htm http://www.english-zone.com http://www.jamiekeddie.com/ http://www.havefunteaching.com/reading-worksheets/graphic-organizer http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/teacher'spage.htm http://www.ldpride.net/learning-style-test.html Beginner’s Communication Games by Jill Hadfield, Longman 1999 English Vocabulary in Use Elementary, by Michael MaCarthy and Felicity O’Dell, 2010