Motivation and Language Learning: A Look at Age Factors, Learning Histories, and More

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-28
Author(s):  
Joseph Wood ◽  
Karl Koisegg
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Age Factors ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Motivation To Learn ◽  
Japanese Students ◽  
Motivation And Learning

Motivation plays an important role in successful language learning. Where does the motivation to learn a second or foreign language come from though? What makes some learners more motivated to study a language than others? This study examines how Japanese students perceive their own motivation to learn English and asks them to reflect back on their language learning histories as they do it. The study collected and analyzed data from two sets of English language learners: 23 university students and 13 adult learners who were either working full time or retired. Survey and interview data were collected and analyzed to compare the two groups and found that they share more similarities than differences in their attitudes toward motivation and learning English. 効果的な語学学習において、モチベーション(動機)は重要な役割を担っている。しかし、第二言語や外国語を学ぶモチベーションは一体どこから湧いてくるのだろうか。一部の学習者が他者よりも高いモチベーションを持つのはなぜだろうか?この研究では、日本の学生たちが英語を学ぶにあたってどのように自身のモチベーションを感じ取っているか調べ、また彼らの学習履歴を振り返ったときのモチベーションの変化について聞いてみた。まず英語学習者を 2 つのグループに分け、それぞれのデータを収集し分析した。1 つは 23 人の大学生、もう 1 つは成人してフルタイムで働く、または定年退職後の学習者グループである。彼らを観察し、面接して得られたデータを収集・分析し 2 つのグループを比較したところ、モチベーションと英語学習に対する姿勢には相違点よりも類似点のほうが多いということがわかった。

scholarly journals Empowering Teenage English Language Learners Through Creative Projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 2019 (1) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Mari Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Private Language ◽  
School Students ◽  
Japanese Students ◽  
Senior High School Students

Research shows that Japanese students’ motivation for English study tends to decline as they move through their schooling and that secondary-level students’ schoolwork-related anxiety rises as they grow older. In this practice-oriented paper, I first discuss the learning background and needs of junior and senior high school students at my private language school. I then describe small-scale “creative projects” that I design and implement with the aim of fostering the students’ intrinsic motivation for English language learning and to improve their confidence in expressing and discussing original ideas in English. The description of a sample project illustrates the project goal, class profile, and project procedure. My reflective comments regarding the effectiveness of the project in achieving the above-mentioned goals are also provided. Finally, the limitations of creative projects and possibilities of further improvements are discussed. 数々のリサーチが日本の中高生の英語学習への意欲は学年が上がるほどに減退し、彼らの学習についての不安は成長とともに高まると示唆している。この実践報告レポートでは、まず筆者の主宰する民間英語教室での中高生の学習状況と彼らが有する独特のニーズを自己決定理論と内発的動機づけに関する理論の観点を通して紹介する。次に、彼らの英語学習への内発的動機を育み、英語で独自のアイディアを表現する自信を高めるために当校で開発、実施している小規模な創造的プロジェクトを解説する。プロジェクトの描写ではプロジェクトの目的、クラス構成と活動手順を示し、プロジェクトが目的を果たす上での効果についての指導者の振り返りコメントも提示する。また最後に、現在の創造的プロジェクトの限界と今後の改善の可能性を述べる。

scholarly journals A Study of Language Anxiety among English Language Learners in Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badia Muntazer Hakim
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Self Awareness

Classroom anxiety is a recurrent phenomenon for language learners. There are various factors that cause language anxiety, the most common of which include learners’ excessive self-consciousness and self-awareness concerning their oral reproduction and performance and their peculiar, and quite often misplaced and mistaken, views and beliefs regarding different approaches. Other potential reasons for this problem could include the fear, and the consequent deterrence occasioned thereof, of encountering difficulties in language learning, specifically learners’ individual problems regarding the culture of the target language and the varying social statuses of speakers. The most important fear is, perhaps, the deterrent fear of causing damage to one’s self-identity. Therefore, while needing to paying special attention to language learners’ anxiety reactions, language teachers have a crucial role in helping their students achieve the expected performance goals in the target language. Another factor that could potentially lead to language anxiety is simply the poor command of the target language. This problem could be attributed to linguistic barriers and obstacles language learners encounter in learning and using the target language. In the current study, using a qualitative, semi-structured interview and the focus-group discussion technique, the researcher aims to investigate the factors that contribute to language anxiety among Arab language learners. It focuses on learners both within the classroom setting and without, i.e. in the social context, and recommends a number of approaches to manage and overcome this problem.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATING EXPERIENCED AND NOVICE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS` PERCEPTIONS of MOST USEFUL VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES (VLS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-295
Author(s):  
Elnaz Zariholhosseini ◽  
Ehsan Namaziandost ◽  
Mehdi Nasri
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
New Words ◽  
Novice Learners ◽  
Vocabulary Learning Strategies ◽  
Personal Use

Purpose of the study: This article report’s findings from a study on the differences and similarities between experienced and novice English language learners with regards to their personal use of VLS. Methodology: Closed questionnaire and semi-structure interviews were applied to collect the data. The questionnaire was distributed among 60 (30 experienced learners and 30 novice learners). In addition, 20 learners (10 experienced learners and 10 novice learners) were asked to answer the questions in the interview. Therefore, descriptive statistics, U Mann Whitney test, and independent-sample t-test were run to compare and analyzed the data. Main Findings: The finding showed that there were significant differences between experienced and novice learners’ thoughts towards vocabulary learning strategies and experienced learners used vocabulary learning strategies while learning new words in English language learning. Applications of this study: If the learners are taught how to use each strategy correctly, their understanding of the language can naturally be improved. Moreover, VLS is beneficial throughout the process of vocabulary learning which makes learners more independent and allows teachers to focus on other things as well. Novelty/Originality of this study: To the best of researchers’ knowledge, no study has been done on investigating Iranian experienced and novice English language learners` perceptions towards most useful vocabulary learning strategies (VLS).

scholarly journals Teaching and Learning Vocabulary: What English Language Learners Perceive to Be Effective and Ineffective Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Seyyed Hatam Tamimi Sa’d ◽  
Fereshte Rajabi
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Language Teachers

Vocabulary constitutes an essential part of every language-learning endeavour and deserves scholarly attention. The objective of the present study was three-fold: 1) exploring Iranian English language learners’Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLSs), 2) examining language learners’ perceptions of vocabulary learning, and 3) exploring Iranian English language teachers’ Vocabulary Teaching Strategies (VTSs). In total, 145  intermediate learners of English as a foreign language, consisting of 114 males and 31 females aged 15 to 27, participated in the study. The triangulated data were collected using three tools: questionnaires, interviews, and class observations. Sixty-seven learners (31 females and 36 males) filled out a 56-statement questionnaire, adopted and adapted from Takač (2008) and translated into Persian. The questionnaire comprised two parts, enquiring as to the learners’ VLSs and the teachers’ VTSs. The findings indicated that females and males differed significantly in their reported VLSs and their teachers’ use of various VTSs. Additionally, 78 learners were interviewed as to their perceptions of effective and ineffective VLSs as well as VTSs. The findings revealed that the most effective VLSs were reported to be: a) reciting, repeating and listening to words, b) using words, and c) memorising words while the most effective VTSs revolved around: a) explanation, b) repetition, and c) dictation. The observations also confirmed the findings obtained via the questionnaire and interviews. In general, the findings are indicative of the limited repertoire of vocabulary acquisition techniques employed by Iranian EFL learners, hence the need for strategy training in how to acquire vocabulary. 

scholarly journals LEARNERS’ STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
Durga Bhusal
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Affecting Factors ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
The One

Language Learning Strategies (LLSs) are specific actions, behaviors, steps, or techniques that the learners use them to improve their performance which is important for L2/FL learning and teaching. These strategies are as affecting factors on success or failure of the language learning process. Hence, this paper explores the English language learners’ learning strategies to develop their communicative competence within the theoretical stance of Oxford’s 1990 Language Learning Strategies (LLSs). The study is qualitative in nature where four participants were interviewed to understand their ontological perspectives and practices of different LLSs to enhance their communicative ability in English. The findings show the learners seemed to be usual strategy users. However, social, affective, and metacognitive strategies frequent strategies for developing their communicative competence. It further depicts learners are not always aware of the influence of consciously using language learning strategies for making their learning quicker and more effective. Thus, the teachers need to be the one who helps their students develop the awareness of language learning strategies and enable them to use a wider range of appropriate strategies for further success in their communicative competence.

scholarly journals THE SIOP MODEL AS AN EMPOWERING TEACHING METHOD FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS - A STUDY CASE

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustapha Boughoulid
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Quasi Experimental

The increase in the needs of the English language learners (ELLs) and their endless demands in terms of achievement and proficiency in all the educational systems all over the world urged teachers and educators to call for new teaching strategies that sound more adequate and appropriate in the classroom. The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model emerged as one of the worldwide prominent teaching methods that guarantee the ELLs success, especially when it has to do with the understanding of the content and language learning meanwhile. With its diverse culture and prominent engagement in terms of education, Morocco represents a fertile field for the implementation of the SIOP Model that has proven in different contexts its adequacy in helping ELLs achieve proficiency. This study is about a quasi-experimental research that is implemented in an urban school known for its diversification in terms of mother tongue, socio-economic status, gender, and background. Given these different circumstances of the learners, the findings reported after the adoption of the SIOP Model as a teaching approach showed that it is a reliable and adequate teaching method in terms of content and language proficiency. The use of wh-questions as key indicators to measure the learners’ capacity of understanding and responding correctly throughout the experiment phase showed the superiority of the ELLs in the SIOP classes in contrast to the learners in the mainstream classes. This superiority is embodied, especially in terms of the high scores obtained in providing correct answers in a short duration of time. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0726/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Learning Strategies in Alleviating English Writing Anxiety for English Language Learners (ELLs) with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Chia-Pei Wu ◽  
Huey-Ju Lin
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Writing Anxiety ◽  
English Writing

<p>This study utilized the Oxford Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) and an English writing anxiety scale to examine the relationship between learning strategies and English writing anxiety in 102 university-level English language learners (ELLs) with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in a university in Taiwan. Kruskal Wallis Test results revealed no significant association between learning strategies and English writing anxiety. The common learning strategies utilized by participants were compensation, social, memory and mixed strategies. The interview data indicated that ELLs suffered considerably from writing anxiety. Coping strategies of highly anxious ELL of each learning strategy group is also reported. However, further studies of larger populations and comparison of different ethnic groups as well as quantitative statistics analyses are needed.</p>

On My Mind: University Faculty—Making Classroom Connections

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 488-489
Author(s):  
Denisse R. Thompson ◽  
Gladis Kersaint
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Full Time ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Graduate Teacher Education

University teacher educators typically wear many hats. Their many roles may include providing professional development (i.e., workshops) for practicing teachers on various topics (e.g., use of technology, teaching English Language Learners); teaching mathematics or methods courses to teachers or teacher candidates enrolled in undergraduate or graduate teacher education programs; and working with various groups or entities related to policy issues in mathematics education (e.g., teacher licensure, high-stakes assessment). Although mathematics teacher educators contribute to the field in various ways, a perception exists that university faculty are in an “ivory tower,” having few or ancient connections to schools. In some cases, their credibility may be questioned because of the time that has elapsed since they were in a classroom full time.

scholarly journals Mobile Language Learning Applications from the Perspectives of Adult Language Learners in Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-264
Author(s):  
Arzu Ekoç
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Adult Language Learners ◽  
Application Developers

Mobile language learning applications have changed how language is learned and have opened new windows for potential learners. At the convenience of our time, place, comfort and pace, we can learn or revise a language through our mobile gadgets. From the reviewed literature, it is evident that more data is needed to understand the users’ views about mobile applications. Instead of focusing on a single mobile application, the researcher attempted to elicit the general perceptions of Turkish adult learners about mobile language learning apps. In line with this thought, a selfadministered questionnaire was sent to potential mobile app users and 231 participants replied to the questionnaire. The aim of this study is to find out what perceptions adult learners in Turkey have and what their suggestions are to enhance future mobile language learning applications. For the close-ended questions, frequencies and percentages were taken, while for the open-ended question, content analysis was done. Easy access was considered as the greatest strength, while internet connection requirements and scarcity of interactivity were considered among the shortcomings. The participants offered some suggestions which can yield new paths for application developers, teachers and practitioners in the field of English language teaching and adult learning.

scholarly journals DOMINANT LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES USED BY MANAJEMEN DAKWAH DEPARTMENT STUDENTS AT UIN MATARAM

EDULANGUE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Afif Ikhwanul Muslimin
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
English Class ◽  
Social Strategy ◽  
Successful Students ◽  
Academic Year

  AbstractOne of the prominent skills to be acquired by English language learners is Language learning strategies (LLSs) which is significant to enhance communicative competence. Individual’s differences in using the strategies depict their understanding on LLSs. An interesting fact on the result of Manajemen Dakwah Department Students (MDDSs) at State Islamic University (UIN) of Mataram in the odd semester of academic year 2018-2019 was 64 students got higher average English scores in their final test (88) compared to their middle test (65) that might reflect different use of LLS. The English subject was focusing on reading comprehension. Furthermore, descriptive qualitative case study was applied to record the dominant LLSs used by ten successful students or achievers in English class who has the criteria of achieving English score above 90. Three instruments were used to gather data, they are: documentation, questionnaire, and interview. The result shows that students used all LLSs and creating their own learning opportunities. Only HN that did not use social strategy though he used all other strategies. It means that successful MDDSs believe that exactly all LLSs are significant for elevating their language learning. Another result shows that the dominant LLSs which were used are compensation as they are good guesser for the unfamiliar words, memory strategy since they always try to memorize to retain the vocabulary in mind, and metacognitive strategy where they always create best setting for them to learn. Keywords: Language Learning Strategies, MDDSs, Dominant LLSs, English Scores.

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