Let's talk about motivation?

            Motivation is something that will always divide people's opinion. While some believe that it is going to define the learners' success or failure when developing new abilities, others affirm that factors like learning conditions will be much more crucial for the learners' process. 

How is that possible? I would love to become a billionaire!

             When I think about all the people I have met throughout the years, I have to be honest I do not know how I feel about the topic. On one hand I met students who had loving parents, a cozy home, good friends, access to excellent education, and even so did not feel excited about learning. On the other hand, when teaching poorer communities, many children and teenagers who did not have the minimum to live with dignity would be extremely determined and foward-looking. If I had to come up with an answer to the questions "What is motivation?" "How does that work?" I would say:

1. Ideally speaking, no one should have to worry about the next meal, being safe or being loved. Having attention, a dwelling, food and access to good education and leisure is the basics everyone on this planet should have access to. Not worrying about surviving will for sure cause people to react differently to their possibilities.

Is that a matter of motivation? What else do we need to improve as humans?

2. As students, we should reflect more about our learning. The educational system does not embrace the many learning styles out there. More than that, as a society, we do not want to deal with people who think differently.  As a result, we harm them in two ways. First, we do not let them understand their potential. Also, we do not teach them how to learn in their own way. These students, most of the times, drop out of school and believe they are not smart or worthy. It is sad and unfair. Who is to decide what is important or not important for our society? How can we be motivated if we do not even feel welcome?

3. As teacher, we should know what motivates our students to be in our classes. 

        I am not talking about bored teenagers or regular schools here. In these contexts, it is much harder to develop ideas that would actually change the prospects. 

        As I see it, adults at language schools have to be clear with their teachers / the institution about their objetive from the very beginning. Also, teachers should help them deal with their expectations. I mean, how do we break the ice? What are we discussing in class? If we interact with our students since day one, how come we do not know their goals? 

        In this sense, an objective can be read as a motivation. Enjoying or not a class or teaching style will obviously count, but other factors are more relevant here. For example.

                a. Having short and long time goals might help students face harder situations in their                               learning journey;

                 b. Teacher, it is important to be honest about the linguistic investment we need to have in                         order to learn something new. A student who wants to be a lawyer abroad cannot believe the                   effort he needs to make is the same as  if he was going abroad on vacation.

                c. Do not fool yourself! I get annoyed with people who keep complaining about their own                        difficulties, giving a hundred excuses when they do not meet expectations (unrealistic, most                    of the times!). I find it much more interesting to sit down with this student and consider                         possible strategies.

           I hope the post helps you think about your motivation as a teacher and learner. See you around!