What Can Teachers Do to Motivate Second Language Learners?
- Students should be actively engaged in learning the language and developing language skills. Instructors should ensure that each lesson provides students the chance to practice and enhance the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in their target language. Interactive learning ideas might include watching short video clips and having group discussions about the content, writing short stories or an autobiography, performing a play, listening to a song and writing down the lyrics, practicing with flash cards, or playing "Simon Says."
- Divide students into groups and give them a list of specific tasks they must accomplish written in the target language with corresponding materials. For example, the task might be to draw a house, including specific details like a red door, four windows and a gate. Or the task might be to decorate cookies with a certain color frosting and candies that have to be arranged a certain way. Together, students must speak in the target language to interpret the instructions and complete the task.
- Language runs much deeper than simply the words people use to communicate; language is what helps to identify and build entire cultures. To increase your students’ desire to learn a language, focus on helping them develop an interest in and understanding of the culture where target language originated. For example, visit a local Chinatown, take your class to a Mexican culture celebration such as a Cinco de Mayo parade, watch a Russian ballet or eat French food. Building students’ understanding of culture and allowing them to interact with native speakers can create within them a deeper appreciation for the spoken word and greater motivation to learn it.
- The texts, materials and games you use in the classroom should both apply and appeal to the students. Select age-appropriate games that both challenge and entertain groups according to their interests. For example, teach vocabulary and terms to adults that they will likely use in their everyday life, such as how to open a bank account or how to order food at a restaurant. In terms of reading material, have high school students read a translated newspaper excerpt about a popular band or professional sports team, but provide colorful picture books with clearly labeled pictures for younger students.
- In the classroom setting, a teacher’s role is not only to share information with students but to inspire and motivate. Students typically respond better when teachers have a positive and enthusiastic attitude and come to each lesson well prepared and with fresh ideas. Part of the teacher’s responsibility is also to identify and meet the needs of each student according to his or her learning abilities. Utilizing various group sizes, settings and activities are effective strategies in reaching out and appealing to the students’ various learning strengths and weaknesses.