Innovation in Language Learning
Let’s Get Motivated! Teaching Languages in Changing Scenarios
Mario Pace, University of Malta (Malta)
Abstract
Over the past 15-20 years the world has changed immensely and if we look back we realise that today the world is a completely different place than it was then. Changes have occurred in all aspects of our lives, from the society we live in to the family, from the way we communicate with each other on an individual basis to mass communication, from the characteristics of youth then and now, from mobility to employability. Needless to say all these changes have left a huge impact not simply on the composition of our classrooms but, above all, on the teaching and learning processes and the everyday demands and realities language teachers have to face in class. There has been a change in what “learning a language” implies, moving from simply learning the grammatical / linguistic notions to learning how to use the language in everyday life, to learning a language as a life skill for integration purposes. All this has enormous implications on the changing role, or rather roles, that the teacher of languages plays within a scenario where technology has literally taken over. At the same time students long for personal contact. As a consequence, more than ever before, the teacher has become essential in class, not to impart knowledge but to create a stimulating environment in which the students feel empowered and motivated to learn a relevant and practical language that addresses their needs.
Keywords: motivation; changing scenarios; language teaching; empowerment;
References:
[1] Lightbrown, P. & Spada, N. (2006). How Languages are Learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[2] Pace, M. (2017). How can Teachers Motivate their Learners? 10th Int. Conference ICT for Language Learning. Libreriauniversitaria.it edizioni. Padova.
[3] Schunk, D. H., Pintrich, P. R., & Meece, J. L. (2008). Motivation in education: Theory, research, and applications. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
[4] Shipp, J. (2011, 10). MOTIVATING STUDENTS? Leadership for Student Activities, 40, 16-18. Retrieved from
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