1. The effects of mindset and reading strategy intervention on student self-efficacy

2. Theoretical background to the study  A problem with student self-efficacy Students consistently report lower levels of self-efficacy for learning Modern Languages than for any other school subject (Zimmerman, Bandura and Martinez-Pons, 1992)  Mindset Theory (Dweck, 1991)  Attribution Theory (Weiner, 1979) teach students about mindset research to encourage a view of intelligence as malleable equip students with strategies to encourage adaptive attributions for success and failure

3. Aims of the Study This study aimed to improve students’ self-efficacy in learning German through intervention training in mindset and in reading strategies. It was hypothesized that a ‘growth mindset’ and a tendency to attribute performance to the effectiveness of learning strategies employed might result in more empowered learners and consequently lead to a better sustained motivation to learn, resulting in accelerated progress in German.

5. RESULTS OF THE MINDSET INTERVENTION

6. Mindset Intervention 1 Mindset Intervention 2

7. Self-reported strategic classroom behaviours increased significantly for all of the intervention groups. (No increase in the control group) There was a sharp decrease in maladaptive, non-strategic classroom behaviours for the Mindset Intervention groups. (A corresponding decrease was not seen in the Reading Strategy or Control groups) Conclusion: the combination of Mindset and Reading Strategy Interventions appears to have had a significant effect on student attributions and in particular, on the ways in which students explain failure. RESULTS OF THE READING STRATEGY INTERVENTION

9. Exploding some myths Discuss these statements. Where on the line between “myth” and “fact” would you place them? 1. Girls are better at learning languages than boys 2. Some people are born with a natural talent for language DEFENSIBLE THEORY There is scientifically gathered evidence to prove this MYTH There is scientifically gathered evidence to disprove this 3. People who hold a growth mindset about their ability do better at school than their peers. 4. If you focus on reasons for your performance that are in your control, you will make faster progress 5. The longer you spend learning your vocabulary, the better you will learn it

10. Rock am Ring Rock am Ring is the grö ß ste festival in Germany. It is hosted at the famous Formula 1 Nürburgring Autorennbahn and it starts at the same time each year: the first Wochenende in June. The Festival Veranstalter have confirmed their fourth and last headliner for 2010: Rage Against The Machine. They join Muse, Kiss, and Rammstein who will all take to the Bühne this summer. Musikfans will camp out in Zelten, drink lots of alcohol and have plenty of Spa ß! BEFORE READING: Look at the pictures and the title Ask myself what is the text probably going to be about? What German words do I know that might be used in it? SKIM THROUGH THE TEXT, THEN: Decide how I’m going to tackle this text (skim through it, read it sentence by sentence etc.) Underline all of the words I don’t know Work out which words are nouns (they have capital letters) Use the words that you do know to work out the meaning of unknown words Go back to the words or sections I’m not sure about and double-check that it makes sense Think hard about words I might know (don’t give up easily) Use a process of deduction (‘it can’t be that because...’) Sound out the word or phrase Check a few essential words in the dictionary or glossary Remember to re-read the whole sentence to see if it makes sense