A Study on Motivation of Primary School Students in English Learning ABSTRACTWith the development of economy in our country English learning has become more and more important that people begin to learn English with full enthusiasm even from younger age English is taught in grade three or grade one of primary schools and even in kindergartens In order to meet the tendency the new English Curriculum Standard is carried out in recent years throughout China One of the aims of the reform is to stimulate and cultivate students interest and their confidence in learning the languageMotivation is critical in English learning thus how to effectively motivate beginners of English learning is an important problemKey Words primary school students motivation English learning摘 要隨著我國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)變得越來(lái)越重要越來(lái)越多的人滿懷激情的投入到英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)中小學(xué)三年級(jí)或一年級(jí)甚至幼兒園已經(jīng)開設(shè)了英語(yǔ)課為了應(yīng)對(duì)這種趨勢(shì)新課改在全國(guó)范圍內(nèi)實(shí)施新課改的一個(gè)重要目標(biāo)就是要激發(fā)小學(xué)生的對(duì)英語(yǔ)的學(xué)習(xí)興趣增強(qiáng)他們對(duì)這門語(yǔ)言學(xué)習(xí)的信心學(xué)習(xí)動(dòng)機(jī)在學(xué)習(xí)過(guò)程中起著重要作用如何有效得地激發(fā)英語(yǔ)初學(xué)者的學(xué)習(xí)動(dòng)機(jī)是一個(gè)非常重要的問(wèn)題 關(guān)鍵詞1 Introduction12 The importance of the study13 Characteristics of primary school students34 A summary of already studies about motivation in English learning441 Definition of motivation442 Five basic human needs443 Sources of motivation65 Initiating and sustaining motivation851 General principles of motivating students852 Ways of motivating primary school students in English learning116 Conclusion13Bibliography14Acknowledgements15A Study on Motivationof Primary School Students in English Learning 1 IntroductionIn accordance with the development of the society and economy more and more people swarm into the tide of learning English English learners have been younger and younger English courses are taught in grade one or grade three of primary school and even kindergarten The new English Curriculum Reform is underway throughout China Since 2001 a design of Basic Requirement for Primary School English has been introduced One of its goals is to stimulate and cultivate students interest and their confidence in learning the language 2 The importance of the studyAs far as English language learning is concerned despite the achievement gained as the reform is in progress during the phase there remain significant problems for further achievement in primary school English teaching Firstlythe traditional English teaching in primary school overemphasizes the delivery of textbook knowledge but ignores the development of students language ability and their real needs Students have few chances to develop their potential and creativity Secondly teaching methods are lack of flexibility and diversity The main methods include asking students to imitate the teacher or the tape and memorize words sentences and grammar mechanically which turn students into containers of knowledge instead of active language learners Thirdly ignorance of emotional education and regardless of effective ways of motivating students are common during the process of English teaching Fourthly characteristics of primary school students and features of their psychology are both neglected In some cases teaching methods for higher grade students are used for primary school students which obviously violates the cognitive rules of second language acquisition What is worse quite a few students complain that they are afraid of being criticized by their teacher when they do not do well Consequently they feel frustrated and lose interest in learningA good begun is half done Primary school students are beginners of English learning Their experience of English learning in primary school lays a foundation for their further study of English So we should attach enough attention to the phase of teaching Motivation plays a critical role in English learning It is of great significance to motivate these beginners Although some parents send their children to some after-school English class on the weekends in the hope of promoting the childrens English learning some of the teachers and parents are in frustration of recognition of the childrens low attitude and grades in English learning Therefore as teachers we should know the psychological theory and the process of English learning in order to encourage and enhance the English learning of studentsLanguage learning is a very complicated process that is influenced by many factors Besides the intelligent factors the non-intelligent factors -motivation attitude interest age methods will and character-are the direct and the most important factors to English learning Because the behavior of English learners is dominated by cognition in other words the learner has a desire which is a drive to persist in English learning For example two students sit next to each other in a class but they act very differently One takes an active part in class activities jumps into assignments and gets good grades while the other seldom participates in discussion and hesitates on assignments Why This situation is typical Theories of motivation can help us understand the differences In Jkobovits research he shows that the mainly influential factors to English learning are motivation which takes up 33aptitude which takes up 33 intelligence which takes up 20 and others which take up 14 cited in Jia Guanjie 1996 Therefore teachers and parents are interested in motivation which can drive students in English learning actively There is a wildly-held belief that younger second language learners generally do better than old learners Children have a greater need to be motivated and they are easily to be motivated They exercise a good deal of both cognitive and affective efforts in order to internalize both native and second language Teachers should motivate their spirit and sustain their interest in English learning by adopting some means that are closely related to characteristics of children for their age and their features of psychology3 Characteristics of primary school students The age of students is often taken into consideration in the decision about how and what to teach People of different ages have different needs competence and cognitive skills Primary school students are no exception They learn differently from older children and adolescents and adults in the following ways 1 They respond to meaning even if they do not understand individual words They often learn indirectly rather than directly- that they take in information from all sides learning from everything around them rather than only focusing on the precise topic they are being taught 2 Their understanding comes not just from explanation but also from what they see and hear and crucially have a chance to touch and interact with 3 They generally display an enthusiasm for learning and curiosity about the world around them 4 They have a need for individual attention and approval from the teacher 5 They are keen to talk about themselves and respond well to learning that uses themselves and their own lives as main topics in the classroom 6 It is very hard for them to concentrate on study for a long time They have a limited attention span unless activities are extremely engaging and they can easily get bored and lose interest after ten minutes or so4 A summary of already studies about motivation in English learning41 Definition of motivationPeople are always motivated in fact they are never unmotivated They may not be motivated to what we prefer them to do but it can never be truly said they are unmotivated In psychology motivation is a force that energizes and directs a individual towards a goal It is some kind of internal drive which drives someone to do things in order to achieve something William and Richard Burden suggest that motivation is a state of cognitive arouser which provokes a decision to act as a result of which there is a sustained intellectual andor physical effort so that a person can achieve some goals They go on to point out that the strength of that motivation will depend on how much value the individual on the outcome he or she wishes to achieve Adults may have clearly defined or vague goals Childrens goals on the other hand are more amorphous and less easy to describe but they can still be very powerful Just as a force moves an object motivation moves a person More visualized if individuals are machines motivation is the very engine that powers and directs individuals behavior Motives serves three important functions 1 energizing us ie turning the key and starting the motivational engine 2 directing us pointing us in a particular direction and 3 helping us select the behavior most appropriate for achieving our goals In a word motivation is an inner state that arouses an individuals desire for a goal and maintains his or her efforts in a certain direction and timecom Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivationIntrinsic motivation Internal desires to perform a particular task People do certain activities because it gives them pleasure and develops a particular skillExtrinsic motivation Factors external to the individual and unrelated to the task they are performing Examples include money good grades and other rewards42 Five basic human needsIntrinsically motivated students are bound to do much better in classroom activities because they are willing and eager to learn new material Their learning experience is more meaningful and they go deeper into the subject to fully understand it On the other hand extrinsically motivated students may have to be bribed to perform the same tasksA theorists by the name of Abraham Maslow has concluded that before we can be intrinsically motivated we must first satisfy some more basic human needs There are five basic levels of human needscom Physiological needs We are motivated to satisfy needs that ensure our physical survival Needs in this group include food water air shelter and clothing Most people have satisfied their physiological needs which allow them to concentrate on higher level needs For some though physiological needs are dominant and are the biggest needs in their lives com Safety needsOnce physiological needs are met one can concentrate on bringing safety and security to our lives Safety and security needs include order stability routine familiarity control over ones life and environment certainty and health com Social needs These needs include love affection belonging and acceptance People look for these needs in relationships with other people and are motivated for these needs by the love from their familiescom Esteem needs All people have a need for stable firmly based usually high evaluation of themselves for self-respect or self-esteem and for the esteem of others These needs may therefore be classified into two subsidiary sets These are first the desire for strength achievement and adequacy mastery of competence confidence independence and freedom Second we have what we call the desire for reputation or prestige defining it as respect from other people status fame glory dominance importance recognition dignity or appreciation com Need for self-actualization This level of hierarchy is concentrated on an individual being able to reach their full potential as a human being Once someone has satisfied the first four levels of needs then they have the ability to concentrate on functioning to their highest potential But even if all these needs are satisfied we may often still expect that a new discontent and restlessness will soon develop unless the individual is doing what they are fitted for Musicians must play music artists must paint if they are to be at peace with themselves What humans can be they must be They must be true to their own natureThe first four needs are what we call deficiency needs because they come from things we are lacking These needs can be met only by external sources by the environment people or things going on around us Self-actualization is a growth need This doesnt just address what we are lacking in our lives but it gives us room to grow and develop as an individual This need is always intrinsically motivated because we do it out of pure enjoyment and desire to grow Maslow does explain that self-actualization is rarely achieved even as adults But teachers must make sure students have satisfied their deficiency needs in order to move on to their growth one Intrinsic motivation will not occur until they are well fed safe in their environment and can love and respect the teachers and their classmates 43 Sources of motivation The motivation that brings students to the task of learning English can be affected and influenced by many factors It is worth considering what and who these arecom The society we live in Outside any classroom there are attitudes towards language learning and the English language in particular How important is the learning of English considered to be in the society In a school situation for example is the language learning part of the curriculum of high or low status If school students are offered the choice of two languages to learn which one will they choose and why Are the culture images associated with English positive or negativeAll these views of language learning will affect the students attitude to the language being studied and the nature and strength of the degree of motivation the students brings to class and whether or not that motivation continues For example with the requirement of economic development in China English has become more and more important that people begin to learn English with full enthusiasm Mastery of foreign languages especially English is considered as a passport to ones future success So learning English has become a very prevalent tendency The important role of English in China has driven more and more people to learn itcom Significant others Apart from the culture of the world around the students their attitudes to language learning will be greatly affected by the influence of people who are close to them The attitude of parents and old siblings will be crucial For example many parents in China find a tutor for their children to improve their English This behaviour implies that their parents attach great importance to English learning As a result most children can come to realize that a good command of English is of great meaning to them and they should work hard on itThe attitudes of the students peers are also very crucial If they are critical of the subject or activity the students own motivation may suffer If they are enthusiastic learners however they may take the student along with them The teacher is clearly a major factor in the continuance of a students motivation Teachers take on multiple roles as controllers organizers assessors participants resources tutors and observers All roles after all aim to facilitate the students process in some way or other Therefore teachers attitude to the language and the task of learning will be vital Teachers enthusiasm is crucial factor in students motivation If a teacher becomes bored or apathetic students will do too On the contrary a teacher who is full of passion for the job will devote himselfherself to teaching and always thinks all kinds of ways to improve hisher teaching Consequently their students will be affected by their teachers devotioncom The method It is vital both teacher and students have some confidence in the way teaching and learning take place If the method being used is boring and single students motivation can be disastrously affected and lose confidence in English learning However when students favor the method success is much more likely5 Initiating and sustaining motivationYou can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink Motivating students is a little like that It involves not only leading them to English but also making them thirty for knowledge and understanding of it English teachers are organizers or leaders in teaching They have the responsibility to increase their students inclination to perform willingly and actively in English learning Special attention should be paid to primary school students because they are beginners of English learning and have their own characteristics that need to be considered by teachers There are some principles that teachers should bear in mind and follow when motivating primary school students Most importantly they should master all kinds of methods and make good use of them to enhance primary school students motivation in English learning if they want to make some difference51 General principles of motivating students 1 A teacher is not just a teacher and heshe is a person tooNo matter what class demographics are there is one sure way to motivate students into participatingSometimes primary school students tend to have the mentality that teachers are just teachersThey exist in school and nowhere else However if the teacher let them see himher as a person and not just a teacher heshe might see a change in how they react to the class and class activitiesIf they respect the teacher they will respect the class and be motivated to participate in whatever the teacher has for them to doOf course that is so much easier said than done There are some things a teacher should think about when trying to figure out how to show hisher human side 2 A sense of fulfillment motives learning To a great extent the lack of motivation is due to the lack of lack of confidence A sense of accomplishment is one of the sources of confidence It is very difficult for a student to have a keen desire to learn again after heshe has made persistent efforts but fails many times If he or she experiences success again and again heshe will be full of confidence and hisher enthusiasm for learning will also be enhanced Every student has the desire to demonstrate their ability which brings them the courage to overcome difficulties and the spirit of persistence It has been mentioned that primary school students have a need for attention from others So it is very essential to give them chances to experience success to meet their desire which can make them feel proud of themselves and be more eager to learn 3 Good teaching is learner-centered not teacher-centeredTeacher-centered means BAD The teacher who doles out formal knowledge of the language is like a cook giving prisoners thin soup and stale bread In this spoon-feeding or stuffed duck method students are passive and only listen to the teacher without practicing themselves And if things go on like this students will get bored and have no interest at all Lying stress on the mutual action between teachers and students is inevitable result of unceasingly deep understanding for the essence on English teaching Because students need to stimulate their thinking form and develop their comprehensive ability to use language through interaction teachers must guarantee enough time for students to take part in teaching activities in each class and avoid some unnecessary interruptions and trivial explanations to occupy students learning time They should leave students enough time to read think observe and exchange their exploring results and make efforts to improve students ability of thinking and inducing Whatever good an English teacher is if heshe teaches without thinking of the students and making good use of students activeness students must lose interest in English learning It is very common to find that in China the class is dominated by teachers In primary school English teaching teachers should try their best to change the situation and help the beginners of English learning build up a sense that they are the real dominant characters and masters In such cases students will feel real progress get the sense of satisfaction and have a stronger desire for English learning 4 Because learning requires changes in beliefs and behaviour i