Motivation, teaching and learning in spanish classes: possible paths. Analysis and intervention in a language study center in São Paulo. / Motivação, ensino e aprendizagem de espanhol: caminhos possíveis. Análise e intervenção num centro de estudos de línguas de São Paulo.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

In this work we have studied the motivation of Brazilian students in classes of Spanish as a foreign language, in formal learning contexts. We assume that student motivation is a complex construct which involves factors of various contexts (personal, family, scholastic, social etc.), and which can be influenced by a series of choices which the teacher makes during the course. Through the bibliographic revision executed, and used as a foundation, especially in the theoretical models of Zoltán Dörnyei (1990, 1994, 2001a, 2001b) and the empirical study which we have carried out, we aim to: i) deepen our knowledge about the concept of motivation and specific factors related to it; ii) establish a set of teaching strategies focusing on the motivation of students in foreign language classes; iii) assess the degree of motivation of students and teachers of nine Spanish groups in one of the Language Study Centers in São Paulo City, as well as its underlying causes; iv) check to what extent the teachers use determined motivating strategies in the classroom; v) propose and evaluate the application of a process of intervention in one of the groups involved; vi) re-evaluate and complement the set of strategies presented. The theoretical study performed has showed us the importance of an integral vision of learning in which cognition and emotion are closely linked. Besides this, we have reflected on concepts directly related to motivation (anxiety, self-esteem, self-concept, self-confidence, independence, interest, curiosity, etc.) and we described a set of teaching strategies which we have used in the empirical study. The empirical research performed had a mixed methodology: the first of the four stages composing it had a quantitative character and the others were based on the collection and qualitative analysis of data (or, more precisely, on case study and action research). The empirical results showed that: i) both the students and teachers of Spanish involved in the study were motivated, but there is room for improvements that would result in higher degree of motivation among the students; ii) there is a difference between the strategies which the teacher with whom we performed our study claims to use and those which were actually observed in the classroom; iii) there are also differences among the opinion of students and teachers about the degree of motivation caused by specific activities; iv) the implementation of pedagogical changes can lead to increased student motivation. We have concluded our study with the revision and complementation of the set of motivation strategies previously established.

ASSUNTO(S)

learning cel strategies spanish aprendizagem motivation teaching motivação foreign languages espanhol línguas estrangeiras estratégias ensino language study center

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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