How to Motivate the Students of Junior Middle School in English Teaching 英语专业毕业论文.doc

How to Motivate the Students of Junior Middle School in English Teaching AbstractIt is accepted in most fields of learning that motivation is essential to success. Without motivation we will almost fail to succeed. It is similar to students English learning. However, English, as a second language, is not often used by most of the Chinese because they think that English will be useless if their work has nothing to do with English in their future. This traditional idea dies hard and also affects students interest in English study. Even though most of the English beginners are curious about this subject at beginning of their study, they will lose their interest gradually in their future study. What are the reasons for it? One is that English study is not the easiest thing as they thought in the past; the other is that the old traditional teaching systems used make teaching monotonous and students feel dull. Thus urgent and necessary reform in teaching methods has become a hot topic to be widely discussed. Some new ideas that are suitable for English study have been widely introduced and come into being. However, the point is that how to combine these advanced ideas with our own teaching and let the students get good results. This paper will center on three aspects discussing individually how to help teachers motivate the students of Grade Seven in English teaching. That is to say, teachers should reform teaching form, create a new teaching content and adopt a new system of assessment to motivate English beginners.Key words: Motivation; English beginners; Teaching reform IntroductionOn the most basic level in learning, motivation is something like internal drive, which pushes someone to do things in order to achieve something. As H Douglas Brown points out: longitude view of motivation includes factors such as the need for exploration, activity, stimulation, new knowledge and ego enhancement (Jeremy Harmer 2001:51). The motivation that makes students finish their task of learning English is affected and influenced by the attitude of them. As an organizer and instructor, it is teacher who knows a major factor in the continuance of a students motivation. So increasing and directing students motivation is one of a teachers responsibilities, though as Dick Allwright argued that we cannot be responsible for all of our students motivation. (Jeremy Harmer 2005:53). However, the long traditional education, which centers on exams, cannot be suitable for the development of education reform. In the past, English teaching always adopted “teaching in class and a large number of homework must be done out of class”. This teaching method was used by most of the English teachers. On one hand, teachers think reciting should be the most important thing for students to follow. Students must recite the words, idioms, grammars and so on. In teachers mind, only reciting can solve the problem of how to study well. In other words, if they cannot become good reciting persons, students will fail in study. On the other hand, students have to get high marks in the exams for entering high schools. And students should do nothing but practice day by day so that their goals can come true. Then teachers will give them a lot of tests and assign large amounts of homework till students can be trained at different kinds of exams. (Tang Jian Rong 2006:30).However, most students motivation is suppressed by these old ways. They cannot do anything which they most like to do. On the contrary, what they can do is to fellow teachers way, even though they are not willing to do. Of course, their interest will be dying away gradually. Moreover, their personal characters cannot be developed, too. A brief analysis of those problems can be easily found that: traditional teaching forms and unchangeable teaching methods are the root of disliking English. So students always think that the purpose of studying English is not for themselves but for their parents and their teachers. Nowadays, a hot issue is being discussed why most students are tired of studying English in class. The best way to solve the problem is to reform. That is to say, teachers should reform teaching approaches, creating teaching content and adopt a new assessment system to motivate English beginners.I. Reforming Some Teaching Forms1. Changing Teaching PlacesA classroom is the usual place where students spend most time studying at school. It is also the most familiar place for them to study all day long. However, it is the least fresh place for them to have different kinds of classes day after day. Educational psychologists analyze that students will lose their interest in studying if they find the classes uninteresting. Especially for the English beginners, they usually show strong interest in new subjects at first. Nevertheless, as they go on their study without any change, they will lose their interest in those subjects. As an English teacher, he or she should notice the small change in their mood and take some steps in time to arouse their interest.Teachers should change studying places in terms of the practical requirement of the text. Sometimes they can go out of classrooms and refresh the environment. On one hand, it will make students feel fresh and absorb in the classes. On the other hand, it can motivate students interest in studying too. For example, when you teach a text about sports, you may ask your students to go out and have the class on the playground. While they are having lessons, they can breathe the fresh air and see the green grass in the sun. Moreover, when they see the objects such as basketball, Ping-Pong bat and football and so on, they probably fell very excited. In contrast, with using PowerPoint and showing the objects on the green directly, it is not convenient. So the former way is easier, more direct and less restrained.Another example is a text about “An English Friend”. If you have the class in a computer classroom in place of the usual classroom, students must feel excited. Especially when they hear the voice “lets go to the computer class.” They may be crazy and shout to each other “yeah”. According to the practical requirement of the text, you can add some new content to your class so as to create a relaxed atmosphere .You may ask your students to write and send an “e-mail” to each other. It can not only arouse students' interest in studying but also add new things to enlarge their knowledge. (Yao Li Xing 2005:4) 2. Changing Teaching MethodsIt is said that motivation is closely bound up with a person's desire to achieve a goal. A distinction needs to be made here between long and short term goals.(Jeremy Harmer 2001:53) .Long term goals may include the mastery goals, on the other hand, might be the learning of a small amount of new language, the ability to partake in a discussion or the passing of the progress test at the end of the week. Teachers need to recognize that long term goals are vitally important but they often seem too far away. When English seems to be more difficult than the students have anticipated, the long term goals, on the other hand, are by nature much closer to the students' day- to-day reality. It is much easier for students to focus at the end of the week than the end of the year. If teachers can help students in the achievements of short term goals, this will have a significant effect on their motivation.However, to attain the goal is not an easy thing. In the traditional teaching methods, some English teachers always use the same methods without change to teach their students. When they teach new words, they always say “Read after me, Read and spell”; and when they teach texts, they always say “Listen to the tape, read and recite” .Day after day, the procedure is the same and students find that English study is so dull. Naturally their interest dries away gradually.Although different kinds of motivation theories emphasize different methods to motivate the students, the methods can be used separately. For most of the time, the method is used according to different situation in order to motivate the students fully. The following are some suggestions on how to motivate students.2.1. Teachers Should Provide More Chances for Students to Talk in ClassFor students of Grade Seven, the most important thing is that they must grasp the basic knowledge such as listening, speaking, reading and writing. (Hu Chun Dong 1990:15).The more they practice, the better they will get. That is to say, teachers should provide more chances for students to talk in class. Discussion, role play, retelling and interview are some of the ways which may make students involve themselves in English in class. Take the case of interview for example; it is not strange to students. And they often contact with it by watching TV or listening to radio. If teachers adopt this form in the following and let students discuss in class, it must provide more chances for students to talk and motivate students' interest, too. Furthermore, it can also motivate students' communicative competence and linguistic competence. (Yang Guo Rong 2005:32). Take book 2A unit 7“Saving the Earth” as an example.Task: making up a TV program about "Saving our Earth"Suggestions: (1). Method: interviewing specially in varied guests(2). Characters:Hostess: Ms. Ju Ping Guests: Mr. Water, Mr. Air, Mr. Tree and Mr. Fish(3). Expressions:GuestsProblemsReasonsMr. water No longer clean, fewer fish with himWaste water from chemical factories poured into the river or seas Mr. AirNo longer fresh, fewer birds flying in the skyWaste gas produced from factories and motorsMr. TreeFewer trees left, good soil lost, desert growing.Cut down for construction work or for firewoodMr. FishPoisoned or many dyingHaving poisonous waterHostess: Today we are lucky to have Mr. - here with us. Can you tell me something about you life/your work/your problems?(4). Taking measures:Hostess: What do you think we should do to solve the problem?(5). Promise:We are determined to deal with these problems and let you live a simple and peaceful life.To discuss in this way can not only motivate students' interest in the topic but also have more things to speak out .And at the same time, it can also practice their spoken English. In other words, it is really “killing two birds with one stone”.2.2. Making Good Use of Positive Praise on Students People all like praise, so do the students. In fact, when the students receive teachers' praise, they feel happy. It is very helpful for them to build their self-confidence, to gain the sense of satisfaction, to study more actively and willingly. They feel happy and glorious. Praise is important for the development of students. However, not all praise is favorable. If teachers want to make their praise more effective, they should fellow J.Brophy's suggestions. ( Spirnthall,1998).For example :they should deliver their praise unexpectedly, specify the particulars of the accomplishment, show pontaneity,variety and other signs of credibility etc.Students may feel more inspired and encouraged after being praised by their teachers. So teachers should learn how to make favorable praise and how to help the students foster intrinsic and internal motivation.2.3. Correcting Students' Mistakes at the Proper Time It is unavoidable that students may make mistakes. However, how and when to correct their mistakes is a particular art. In the past, teachers always point out students' mistakes face to face in class. This behavior always makes students lose their face and it greatly dampens their enthusiasm of English study. At the same time, they will lose their interest in class. It is not worth doing so. On the contrary, a clever teacher will choose the best time to point the mistakes out and let students discuss why they often make such a common mistakes. By doing so, it not only makes the student who has committed the mistakes knows his errors but also draws all the students' attention. In the meantime, teachers should not blame the students immediately instead they should say some words to encourage him to practice more and forgive his mistakes. In this way, he may work harder and don't make the same mistakes again. Furthermore, he will be very thankful to his teacher who doesn't let him humiliate himself in front of other students.II. Creating New Teaching Content1. Adding or Lessening Teaching ContentConsidering students' development, teachers should add or lessen the content of some texts. It can not only motivate students' interest but also adapt to the characters of education. For example, when you teach some texts about family or occupation, you may add some words such as bosses, businessmen, accountants, mangers, and housewives according to the practice in the situation of pattern drill. Another example is when you teach numbers, most of them are familiar with the numbers from one to ten. You can add rhythmic poem to make you teaching more attractive. One, two, tie my shoe/three, four, knock on the door/ five, six, pick up sticks/ seven, eight, we are late/nine, ten, start again.(Chen Xiao Yan 2005:1) 2. Substituting the New Teaching Content for the Old OneSometimes, teachers should change the old teaching material into some new one. In others words, teachers may make some necessary change in terms of practical situation. For example some games are asked to make some machines. However, it is limited to do in class. At this time, teachers can use others games instead of it such as making a kite. After students have done it, let them say in English about how to make it .It can still stimulate their interest in English study. 3. Widening Teaching Content Students are very sensitive to and curious about new things around them. In order to motivate students' interest in study, teachers should provide for them with some additional information about what they like and are crazy about. For the younger generations at present, they are more interested in entertainment and playing. They are fond of super girls, famous singers and playing games on computers etc. Teachers should give them correct guidance and make them know that knowledge can be learned not only from textbooks but also can be learned from outside of the class and encourage them to read, speak, write and listen to more by means of English newspapers, magazines, TV programs, open lectures etc. III. Building a New Form of Assessment Assessment is one of the most important things in English teaching. A good way to evaluate not only can motivate students' interest in study but also benefit the development of students .It is good for teachers to know their students thoroughly. 1. Adopting a New Form of Assessment According to the special nature of English study. Teachers should encourage students to communicate with each other. In t