CHICKENS AND EGGS Rod Bolitho Norwich Institute for Language Education, UK

Overview What motivates and demotivates learners What motivates and demotivates teachers The reciprocity of motivation Some concluding thoughts

What motivates and demotivates learners - 1 Factors outside school: interests peer norms & pressure societal & parental attitudes and expectations employment prospects home background cultural norms

What motivates and demotivates learners - 2 Factors inside school: the teacher resources & facilities relationships with teacher & other learners examinations prevailing school & class culture attitudes to FL classes

What motivates and demotivates learners - 3 Factors within each learner: self-image anxiety experience of success & failure lathophobia attitude to language and learning mood maturity personal problems

What motivates and demotivates teachers Dörnyeis four aspects of teacher motivation: Intrinsic factors Contextual and social influences Temporal dimensions Negative influences

Intrinsic Factors Working with children/students Love of subject Sense of achievement Professional pride Making a difference Autonomy

Contextual and social influences Prevailing workplace climate & organisational culture Relationship with colleagues Textbooks & the syllabus Resources Teachers roles and status View of learners Management attitudes and practices

Temporal dimensions Career progression / promotion / setbacks Life cycle issues New responsibilities Increased involvement in initiatives and decision-making Contributing to conferences, INSET programmes, etc

Negative influences Stress, hurry and worry Feelings of inadequacy Lack of self-esteem Feeling undervalued Sense of isolation Lack of personal/professional support Lack of autonomy Lack of access to training/training opportunities Pay and conditions Overall disillusionment/cynicism

The Reciprocity of Motivation - 1 Learners and teachers attitudes to language and learning Workload Mutual trust and empathy Classroom climate Unspoken factors and variables (eg mood, state of health etc) Conflict between expectations and beliefs

TEACHER MOTIVATION LEARNER MOTIVATION The Reciprocity of Motivation - 2

Some concluding thoughts for school managers How do you show your appreciation to your teachers? Do you take feedback and act on it? Whats your staffroom like? Is your staff development budget large enough? Is support available to teachers when they need it?

Some concluding thoughts for us, as teachers As teachers, we achieve the impossible on a daily basis – miracles take a little longer! Getting to know our learners better almost always pays off Never forget what its like to be a learner Stress wont just go away by itself: it takes positive action to beat it. Talking to a friend helps us to get things in perspective We all need a comfort zone If we look after ourselves well be more use to others

And finally …….. Thanks for listening. Be good to yourselves! Contact me on

References Claxton, G. (1989) Being a Teacher London: Cassell Dörnyei, Z. (2001) Teaching and Researching Motivation Harlow: Longman Kyriacou, C. (1980) High Anxiety Times Educational Supplement, Spear, M. et al. (2000) Who Would be a Teacher? A Review of Factors Motivating and Demotivating Prospective and Practising Teachers Slough: National Foundation for Educational Research Williams, M. & R.L.Burden (1997) Psychology for Language Teachers Cambridge: Cambridge University Press