This semester the academic pressure was completely off. No extrinsic motivation was applied to any student. It was made very clear that every student with a perfect attendance record would receive at least a passing mark of 60, even if they never participated in any homework assignment or class discussion. No one was threatened with failure at any time. The students were relaxed. This approach was first pioneered in China by Stacy Meeking at Guangxi University.
However, in the 10th week of the semester, numerous students were heard to complain that there was too much homework in the Holistic English Program. It was necessary to remind the students that the Holistic English Program has no mandatory homework. Only those students who wanted to make their English better needed to do that amount of homework commensurate with the desired level of improvement they desired in their English skills. Through classroom discussion of this issue, it was discovered that the complaining students were those seeking the highest possible grade, as opposed to those seeking to improve their English skills. It must be conceded that when the “A” grade is the objective, the amount of homework can be daunting because it is approached with an academic checklist mentality that is counter-productive to improving English skills and it takes the fun out of the Holistic English program.
INTRINSIC MOTIVATION
Intrinsic motivation can be heavily influenced by a student’s attitude toward their school (an inferior institution in their mind), their assigned course subject matter (English) and their teacher (a foreign devil). Negative feelings about any one of these factors can limit or even eliminate a student’s intrinsic motivation.
A teacher who understands the psychological profile or group mentality is better equipped to adapt teaching methodologies to avoid disruptive student behavior and have a positive influence on the students’ attitudes, maybe even changing some.
At the end of the first class, one student confessed “I hate this school and was thinking about quitting until I hear the orientation lecture. I think I am going to enjoy Holistic English.” The orientation lecture was delivered the week prior to class commencement. Emphasis was placed upon student dissatisfaction with their school and why they may wish to consider a more positive attitude.
Intrinsic motivation drives a student to autonomous learning, self-study and development and progress of a real and lasting nature. Extrinsic motivation is effective in creating short bursts of lack luster performance without any meaningful long term development and progress; retention simply does not exist where extrinsic motivation abounds but intrinsic motivation is lacking.
“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” But, you can put salt in its mouth and encourage it to drink. You can assign a student to a school, a course of study and a teacher, but you can’t force the student to learn. If the teacher knows and understands the psychological profile of the target teaching group, the teacher can apply the proper amount of “salt” and encouragement.
The level of intrinsic motivation will have a direct correlation to the students’ final performance based grade. But more importantly, intrinsic motivation will have a direct effect on long term retention of educational benefits.
The University does not provide any English speaking environment so the students are encouraged to take certain steps to create their own. At the commencement of the term an official class roster was provided which indicates the total number of registered students. (Column 1 on chart # 31) The students were instructed to register for important English email communications. (Column 2 on chart # 31 indicates the number of students who registered for email communications) The students were encouraged to register at http://chinaholisticenglish.org to read and write more English. (Column 3 on chart # 31 indicates the number of students who registered before the 5th week of the 16 week term. The students were asked to consider changing their mobile phone language to English and to answer their phone in English. (Column 4 on chart # 31 indicates the number of students who answered their phone in English during the first 4 weeks of the term) No class had 100% attendance at the initial orientation lecture. (Column 5 on chart # 31 indicates the number of student who attended the orientation lecture.) Column 6 on Chart # 31 indicates the number of students who answered their phone in English in the 11th week of the semester and Column #7 indicates how many students attended the Free Choice Movies shown every evening of week 10 of the semester. Chart # 31 indicates a serious lack of intrinsic motivation and/or self- discipline, across the board.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 1 is rated as 4 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 2 is rated as 5 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 3 is rated as 8 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 4 is rated as 3 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 5 is rated as 1.5 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 6 is rated as 6 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 7 is rated as 2 on a scale of 10.
The overall intrinsic motivation of class 8 is rated as 7.5 on a scale of 10.
Intrinsic motivation measured early in the semester is a truer measurement. Late semester increases may amount to little more than final grade paranoia. What may appear, upon first blush, to be a general across the board increase in intrinsic motivation in the latter part of the 18 week semester; may simply be explained as an increased awareness of the class requirements or a last minute attempt for a higher grade.
Possibly the disparity of intrinsic motivation between the 8 classes is the result of different majors having different perspectives regarding the importance of English in their future. Hence, the students were given a supplemental questionnaire to establish the students’ perception of the importance of English in their future. The class-by-class breakdown appears in chart 32.
CLASS #1 (Fundamental Mathematics and Polymer Chemistry and Physics)
CLASS #2 (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
CLASS #3 (Textile Engineering, Material Engineering and Dyeing and Finishing Engineering)
CLASS #4 (Business Management)
CLASS #5 (Physics and Chemistry of Materials)
CLASS #6 (Information Technology)
CLASS #7 (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Communication Engineering and Computer Technology)
CLASS #8 (Textile Design and Textile Engineering)
The Mid-Term grades have a close correlation to the attitude toward English. Chart 33
QUESTIONS:
WHY DO SO MANY STUDENTS FAIL TO REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH IN THEIR FUTURE?
DO THEY NOT BELIEVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES ENGLISH EDUCATION MANDATORY?
Chart 31
Chart 32
Chart 33
because many student think that their job need not to use english,so they think that english is not important. but i think that english is important.i want to improve my english,especially my oral english.
The statistics reflect some problems we should think,it make me know the real motivation of study english.Maybe we all realize the impoatant of english,but we done not enougt to learn it.We aways think of something but can not reach it.It is people’s weakness.we should work hard about the execute efficiency.
STACY MEEKING – GUANGXI UNIVERSITY
Chinese English students are motivated extrinsically i.e. by rewards (jobs, grades, money, parental/societal approval). There seems to be little intrinsic motivation i.e. desire to master the language, to excel with an understanding that results are not based on luck and that rote learning will not achieve their desired goals. This is manifest by most university freshmen English students. In time, a few students develop a stronger intrinsic motivation level if allowed to do so. This is particularly noticeable in my HE classes. I don’t see or hear much evidence for this transformation in standard Chinese mainstream English classes.
I guess that the intrinsic motivation factor for any student is a key to high achievement/mastery for any subject from golf to English. Students practice their English communication more effectively if they are intrinsically motivated because work on their English is not seen as ‘work or a chore’ per se.
It all gets back to the elusive ‘nirvana’ I have previously described, about students that are at their learning zenith when they are acquiring English without realizing it.
To sum up: your study seems to indicate many students are aware of an English importance, but are loathe to commit to English on purely intrinsic grounds.
It is the quality of the teacher/teaching that has the most profound effect on whether or not students make the transition from extrinsic to more intrinsic motivation drivers. The class atmosphere is a key performance indicator.
I think the intrinsic motivation of a student is important to his or her study.Without intrinsic motivation ,nothing can be learning.There are a lot of factors which can affect students’ intrinsic motivation . An inferior institution is not the most important one.A student who really wants to learn something, whether in a prestigious university or in a second-class schools ,he or she will be studying very hard.I think the most important factor is whether they have decided what they want to learn.If they have decided what they want to learn, they will work hard for it .
Maybe some of us still can not see the important of English.But it is no denying the fact that English is an useful tool for futher study and better work.We read latest researchs in English Journal and do business with foreiner in which we should use English as a language tool to talk with them.Why do we learn English until we must use it?Why not always preparing for ?
I think English is very important to us for the future.To me,My major is computer technology.I need English to edit programme.So i must learn it well!
treat English as your friend!
As we all know,english is very important to our future.But the problem is that we can not reach.We have not taken jobs.Most of us don’t catch the meaning of learning english.We just know we should learn english well.If we don’t go abroad or work in a foreign company,we have little chance to speak english. As this,some students have just so-so attitude.
I think that many students don’t feel why English is important by their own.We always are told that it is important as if we are told that we should study hard for our future in our childhood.But we don’t admit it in our heart.I have tried to communicate with some foreign people ever.It’s hard for me to express myself fully,even I don’t know the simple everyday thing.
we have learned english for many years from middle school,some maybe longer .why do we have to learn english ?as chinese students,many of have not realize the importance of english ,our education maybe the reason .they let us learn it ,but they didnot supply an environment to use it .so many of us have the mistaken idea .now ,from my friends who have worked and my own experience ,I do realize the importance of english .and i will try to improve my english ,especially oral english .
I think intrinsic motivation is indeed very important in our lives. If our hearts want to do something, then we will work on it step by step until the success. I like English and I think English will be very important in my future, so I will try my best to learn it well.
intrinsic motivation is important.English study is a progressive, gradual process – you can’t run before you can walk.
More practice，more gain
When learning english, you should please yourself first. Please don’t consider anything that is no matter with interests. And when you decide to do a thing, please persist. One day, you will know what intrinsic motivation has brought for you.
Most of us realize English is important to our future,for example,many parent let their children to learn english when they can learnning,but why when they get up, they are boring to English,I think their are some reason.
Some people don’t like English,Because they are failed in English exam in early education,so it is discourage them,they want to escape it,but for presure of education ,they must to learn,it is burden for them.
Other reason is that they think their future job need’t too much English knowledge,they are touch Chinese ,communicate with Chinese,every company has translator or interpreter,if they need to read foreign papers,they have software instrument for translate,they are have little chance to touch foreigner ,so they think need’t spent much time on English.
You also said that intrinsic motivation is important,I am agree with you,but thinking must relate to fact,if we can change the thought of most part of Chinese ,I think it will change.
If one want to improve his English, then he will initiative learn it. He will pressure to himself.
I agree with what clarinda said，I think if someone really want to learn English well,he(she) shoud try his(her) best to learn it initiatively,not only English but also other subjects.
I really want to make my English better,especially my oral English.I have to concede that English is very important in our future career,but I am lack of intrinsic motivation to speak、write and listen to english every day,maybe I have not much interest.I think the most importment thing is to develop the interest in English study.Now,extrinsic motivation can prompt me to make my English better. In the first half semester I didnot work wery hard in studying english,now,I want to make the change.
Jack zstu 2
November 19th,2010 at 7:30pm
It is known to all that motivation is very important in studying a lauguage.So,we should utilize our advantageous factor.As the proverb goes “no pains, no gains”.Only in this way ,can we improve our English all round.
Professor,here I want you to know something.In many Chinese’s students’ mind,we know how important it is to learn English well,but it is difficult to stick to learn English everyday,and what’s more,many students will fail to let thenseves learn everyday without success immediately.Many students think that if he or she learn English today,they should get high score in the next day’s test!
I think english is essential in my life,my father always ask me “how well of my english study?” He knows that english is very important to my further,i know it too.I hope I can imporve my english,I can do it better.
I want to improve my english.I do not want to find any excuse for my laziness.Many times though I do not make a coment on your website,I actually reading some english paper,of course it is about my major.please fogive my action.
Every student should realizes the importance of learning English well,only in this way can he/she has a positive attitude and learn English well.The key is the students’motivative and attitude,not the help from the teacher
Maybe most of us realize English is very important,but it is easier to say than to do.Sometimes,we really want to improve our English level and kown reading,writing,listening,speaking can improve our English,but we cannot find a place where we can speak confidently and do not be laughted no matter what is wrong or right .Only a small part of us can come through the difficulty and insist on learning English,then they have a good command of English.We really need more English enviroment….
I know English is very important.But I find i didn’t know how to study.
We should learn English well certainly,but we need more time to learn it,sometimes we are busy ,and fotget to study English.We use English seldom,so we forget what we learned even we just learn.So the best way to improve English is to learn more and spend more time on it.
In my opinion,everyone of us want to learn English well.All of us know the important of English to our future. But actually we have not a enviroment that we can speak it in our daily life,and sometimes we have another work we have to do even we forget to learn English this day.
We should learn English well.
And we must use it.
We should not treat English as a work, a subject or something, but as a thing that we must use in daily life just as Chinese.
Just use it more.
I want to find a job in Qingdao city in future.There are a lot of foreign-invested ventures there,so I will use English in the future.And English is also a language,which is my favorite.But I am not high and motivated in the class because I don’t like the atmosphere sometimes.Topics we have discussed are not interested enough,though can lead to profound thinking.It’s just like I am taking an English class instead of a relaxed oral english class.We want to chat like we are just outside the class.That’s the voice from the bottom of my heart.
Maybe some students think that the English not too important for their jobs in the future.But I think English is quite important especially to oneself development of future.we shoud learn English by use more energy.I really want to learn it well.
When I was an undergraduate,I spent a lot of my time on English learning because I need to pass the CET4 and CET6,that sounds great,but what I did is just learning new words,did papers,did exercises,I rarely speak english,because no one speak english in their spare time,even in the english class,the teacher speak mandarin most of the class time.when I speak english in the public,other students look at me,it is seems like I am an weirdo.So I said to myself“I won’t speak english in the public any more”.this is my story.Althought I passed CET6 when I was a sophomore,I can’t express myself clearly.It’s really a tragedy
Learning to speak English well may be the best thing I can do to improve my life.
In my opinion, the classroom atmosphere of the oral English is very harmony.We students just to think the topics from all aspects,not just from one aspect.The people think the topics are boring are the people who do not think the topics from other aspects. They think them just like the common people. What’s more ,I feel the class is enough relaxed. We can drink coffee or tea in the classroom which has never been meet before you classroom. But I can give you a small suggestin that we can change the classroom to other places such as the lawn sometimes,just to make the students more dynamic.
As does he like your English class.I don’t know .every students has his or her favorate.Maybe he just do like the English class he had in the university or others.We can not change him because all things are difficult to perfect,he may be a regret in it.
As do Chinese students chat in English outside the classroom.I think they may be chat by Chinese not English.
From we are young,we’re forced to study,to achieve best grades, so maybe we don’t know what intrinsic motivation is even we are 20 years old.What we know is what should do and what shouldn’t know rather than what we want to do.I think we feel so press that we learn to resist even the teachers have their good wills for us.We tend to study to cheer parents and teachers rather than cheer ourselves.I think it is the reason we can’t nuture our motivation to study English.I think it is the time for us to think about our future and cheer ourselves.
nice class!
For the motivation,I think for this phenomenon is that majority of us haven’t know the importance of English,after we graduate,and have a job,which need English,then we will be motivated,but for most of us,the job we will get seldom have any relationship with English,and this may influence the motivation we learn Englsih,another reason maybe is that we have learnt English for more than ten years,we feel tired about it,every year have English class,doing the same things,which make we feel bored.
In my opinion,if we had a very strong interest in English,we would be more motive in the learning of English.So interest is essential for us to do something.Even though we have learned English for more than ten years,we haven’t made great success on it.The only one reason,I think,is that we are not interested in English at all.We learn English just as to complete the requirements of our schools and get a good job after our graduation.
We are passive in learning English.
English is rather important at this stage.So we must try our best to learn it.We can communicate in Enlish with our foreign teachers frequently ,speak English completely in our darly life instead of Chinese,listen more English ,read more English works and write more.
Only those who really want to imorove their English have intrinsic motivation. It is a sad thing for the others who are compelled to learn English. Furtunately, I belong to the former.
In my opinion, the class is useful to improve my oral English. Though the movies are old, the topics are still very interesting, which give us a very different sight on different cultures. I’m shocked by the situation of African and the love between American couples. Class time is limited, if we want to learn more, we should do some homework, such as watching movies, talking with others in English ,writing English articles. Do not complain the professor. It’s ourselves that can help us doing better in English.
Thank you professor,you always respect students.You are my first foreign teacher,I am so appreciate to you in this thanksgiving day!
Firstly i have changed my english name,my new name is Janne.secondly,i think you are a good teacher.I found my spoken english has improved a lot.At last i really like english very much,beacuse it is useful.