Трудности профессионального становления(из опыта работы)

           Facing the challenges of motivating my students 

Voskhodova Yelena Anatoljevna,

Abakan State Educational Establishment, Secondary School №25

Modern method of studying foreign languages highly underlines the necessity of strengthеning  the motivational aspects. The higher motivation is, the more productive the studying of target language is. Among the difficulties of studying language, the insufficient motivation of a student can exactly lead to low results in study.

There are two basic forms of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation is typically driven by factors outside of the learner. Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is free from the influence of external factors such as reward or punishment. Intrinsically motivated students find studying interesting or enjoyable. Therefore, motivation comes from inside and is self- determined. To enhance self-determined motivation, teachers  should  support students’ psychological needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness. Using these principles, teachers can effectively nurture more self-determined students who rely less on external reinforcement, such as grades, and more on internal motivation, such as curiosity.

 The main goal of teaching is to help students not lose but increase their curiosity and interest to language. “The classroom is not a one- way street, in which the teacher maintains strict control of the environment, but rather a two-way street that allows active participation by students”(A. Felipe Vela Izquierdo).  In such a classroom, the teacher assumes the role of facilitator and monitor, and students are encouraged to perform actively in cadence with the teacher and among themselves. According to my experience, using of advanced and modern technologies helps definitely in overcoming the challenges of   motivating.

To be my students more motivated and interested in English, I try to employ various methods and techniques such as: art- pedagogical technology, creative technique “Six Thinking Hats”, modern information technologies, gambling training, communication with native-speakers, games and others. I am going to focus on some of the them.

I would like to stress the method of projects that I combine with modern information technologies. Using new information technologies in teaching English is one of the most important aspects in improving and optimization of educational process. It allows me to vary forms of practicing and make lessons more interesting and unforgettable for students. To do a project is a way to research activity.  My students master searching skills, learn how to work with literature, seek and find necessary information in the Internet, learn how to present their projects, react and response questions.

Communication with native- speakers is one more stimulus to enhance students’ interest. Our school has been cooperating with Khakas State University for several years. We organize meetings and discussions with students from English- speaking countries. This year Brittany Belkevich (Ms. B as students address her) from the USA does a voluntary work as the teacher of   English in the 7^th grade once a week. Students look forward to every meeting with her. They have a unique opportunity to practice oral speech with a native- speaker and improve their auding skills. What’s more, they overcome psychological barrier, communicating with  a native-speaker.

I regularly use games to review and practice the language skills that the class is currently studying. Games create opportunities for students to communicate in a relaxed, friendly and cooperative environment. Games reduce tension by adding fun and humour to lessons and an element of competitiveness. Although games do add life to an English class, it is not necessarily good to have the class play games every day. Games should not be a waste of time and must be an essential part of the student’s development. I use games as a means of livening up my classes so that students look forward to their next English class with enthusiasm.

In conclusion, I would like to say that after years of teaching I have learnt  that English need not be a boring  subject, on the contrary, it can be fun if teachers supplement the formal lessons with alternative methods and techniques. I think Abraham Lincoln’s words are most acceptable to the creativity of a teacher: “If I’m given eight hours to cut down the tree, I’ll spend six hours to sharpen an ax”.