Of all the different factors involved in language learning motivation
is probably one
of the most important. This presentation is of a practical nature. I
wrote it as a result
of my experience to organize activities that students enjoy most of all.
Experience has proved that if learning is enjoyable, there is greater
involvement and
recall on the part of the student.
All four-language skills are indeed brought to bear.
1. Writing
Most often, the writing that students do in schools is simply for the
eyes of the
teacher. It is very useful to involve students writing to other
students. It gives them a
clear sense of purpose and a sense of having an audience for their
writing. They can get
feedback from their reader on how far their message has been understood.
I am having a terrific learning experience working with the parcel of
English scheme.
Cambridge University Press has matched us with two schools in Italy and
one in Argentina.
Receiving letters from our twin classes is absolutely delighted. We
really enjoy having
the opportunity of exchanging letters, coins, cards and photographs. The
students learn
what people of the same age do, like, dislike, how they live in cultures
very different
from ours.
Writing to native speakers is interesting as well. I tried to
organize writing to the
USA similar to the Parcel of English scheme. We have been corresponding
with students from
Wisconsin. We send and receive parcels with letters, postcards about
national holidays our
schools curriculums and sports.
You can also encourage your students to develop their writing skills
in a real
environment by suggesting writing letters of enquire to real
organizations. My students
have written to Oxfam, asking to give more information about this
organization, the
British museum the British Tourist Board, Films and Publication Section
Christian Aid and
the National Geographic World.
We got lots of real replies. The letters and brochures we have
received are useful
authentic reading materials and give rise to further correspondents.
This kind of activity
is better to organize as the group activity where students work in three
or fours to
produce one letter, singed by all of them.
2. Reading for pleasure
Reading is the most important as a means of learning. But it can also
be a means of
motivation. Students’ favorite kinds of books are science fiction,
adventure and
detective stories. First of all, my colleagues and I began to establish a
library in our
school by buying books that students enjoy most of all. Each group of
students bought one
set of books for the library. After they have read their ones we
exchange them with other
classes.
Carefully graded Readers provide enjoyable reading. In our library we
have American
books donated us from The World Bank. My fifth and sixth graders find it
interesting
reading books in the original that are written for five-seven year old
American children
because the language is simple and easily understandable.
3. Listening
It is important for students to develop listening skills in order to
understand spoken
English. Watching videos cuts both ways developing listening skills and
motivating
students. The movies with subtitles are very good for this purpose.
Watching videos is a
kind of a reward after hardworking or in the end of the term.
4. Speaking
Students should be exposed into a real language. They want to
implement their knowledge
and skills even at early stage of learning English. Participating in
Moscow Festival for
young learners gave me an idea of holding events like that in my school.
The school
festival is held ones a year but it gives the most positive motivation
of learning English
for the whole school year. Elementary students sing their favorite
songs, role-play short
fairy tales and have "word competition”. For example, we played a game
similar to the
TV show "Understand me”. There were teams of 5-th, 6-th, 7-th and 11-th
graders. The
atmosphere was terrific. Every one was interested in each other’s work.
These activities should be done in accordance with students natural
needs for self -
expression. Teamwork involves them in working together, relying on each
other, being
tolerant.
We need to be closely in touch with colleagues in very wide range of
world sharing the
materials we have been working so hard on. | 
