[EN] Despite the vast research into motivation in traditional Foreign Language Learning (FLL) environments, there has been little done into retention for online FLL. There are many factors that influence retention in online FLL environments and this thesis' original contribution to knowledge was to study the most important aspects for that context. Thus the objectives of this study are to explore the co-existence and interconnectedness between peers, students' indications of autonomous behaviour and the significance of relevance for continuity within a distant / online learning environment and how these issues relate to motivation. This qualitative research study developed a 5-week Intercultural Communication course for students who were at a B1 and B2 (following the Common European Framework of reference for Languages) level of Spanish and English that was delivered entirely online. These students were placed into groups for tutorials and met twice a week on Google Hangouts to practise their target language with natives of that language and discuss the course concepts and their relevance to FLL and their personal lives. These linguistic exchanges were recorded. The dataset that was analysed to draw conclusions were these recordings, statistics from the Blackboard learning platform course site and the pre- and post-course questionnaires. Research into distance and online learning shows that isolation plays a key role in students' decisions to abandon their chosen course. Despite that, current and available technologies have not yet exploited online learning tools that foster and encourage networked learning connections. This thesis concluded that those results are also true for the online FLL context and that emphasis must be placed on giving students opportunities to work autonomously; create spaces that will foster peer interaction, resulting in peer support; and ensure students are continuously aware of the relevance of what they are learning in order to maintain motivation and retention and consequently knowledge acquisition. / [ES] A pesar de la amplia investigación en motivación en los entornos tradicionales del aprendizaje de una lengua extranjera (ALE), se ha trabajado poco la cuestión de la retención del conocimiento en el ALE en línea. Existen muchos factores que influyen en la retención en entornos de ALE y la contribución al conocimiento de esta tesis es el estudio de los aspectos más importantes en ese contexto. Por lo tanto los objetivos que se plantean en esta tesis doctoral son analizar la colaboración y comunicación entre pares, los indicadores del comportamiento autónomo de los estudiantes y la importancia de continuar en un medio de aprendizaje a distancia/en línea y cómo todo ello se relaciona con la motivación. Este estudio cualitativo ha partido del desarrollo de un curso en linea de comunicación intercultural para alumnos con niveles de conocimiento de lenguas B1 y B2 (según el Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para lenguas) de cinco semanas de duración. Durante la realización del curso, estudiantes ingleses y españoles fueron distribuidos en grupos para realizar tutorías, siendo citados dos veces por semana en Google Hangouts para practicar la lengua de destino con alumnos nativos de la lengua meta (español o inglés). Los alumnos comentaban los conceptos del curso y su relevancia respecto a la enseñanza de una lengua nativa así como temas personales. Esos intercambios lingüísticos fueron grabados y junto con las estadísticas extraidas desde la plataforma de aprendizaje Blackboard y los cuestionarios previos y posteriores al curso conformaron la metodología a seguir y los resultados. Los resultados extraidos del estudio mostraron que el aislamiento juega un papel clave en la decisión de los estudiantes de abandonar el curso escogido. A pesar de eso, hemos detectado que la tecnología actual no saca provecho de las herramientas en línea para el aprendizaje de lenguas. La conclusión de esta tesis es que esos resultados son también válidos para los contextos de aprendizaje de una lengua extranjera online y por ello se ha de poner énfasis en proporcionar a los estudiantes oportunidades para trabajar autónomamente, crear espacios que fomenten la interacción entre pares, dar lugar a un apoyo mutuo, asegurándose que los estudiantes son conscientes de la relevancia de lo que aprenden para mantener la motivación y la retentiva, adquiriendo de este modo conocimiento. / [CAT] Malgrat l'àmplia recerca en motivació en entorns tradicionals d'aprenentatge d'una llengua estrangera (ALE), s'ha treballat poc la qüestió de la retentiva per a ALE online. Hi ha molts factors que influeixen en la retentiva en entorns de ALE online i la contribució original al coneixement d'aquesta tesi ha sigut l'estudi dels aspectes més importants en aqueix context. Per això, els objectius d'aquesta tesis doctoral són analitzar la col.laboració i comunicació entre parells, els indicadors del comportament autònom dels estudiants i la importància de continuar en un mitjà d'aprentatge a distància/en linia i com tot això es relaciona amb la motivació. Aquest estudi de recerca qualitativa ha desenvolupat un curs de comunicació intercultural per a estudiants amb un nivell de llengua B1 i B2 (seguint el Mac Comú Europeu de Referència de llengues) de cinc setmanes de durada, que va ser realitzat enterament online. Estudiants anglesos i espanyols van ser distribuits en grups per a tutorials i citats dues vegades a la setmana en Google Hangouts per a practicar la llengua meta amb nadius en eixe idioma i comentar els conceptes del curs, la seua rellevància respecte al ALE i també questions personals. Aqueixos intercanvis lingüístics van ser gravats. Els resultats són el conjunt de dades recopilats en els enregistraments, les estadístiques des de Blackboard learning platform course site i els qüestionaris previs i posteriors al curs. La recerca sobre l'aprenentatge a distància i online va demostrar que l'aïllament juga un paper clau en la decisió dels estudiants d'abandonar el curs escollit. Malgrat açò, les tecnologies actuals disponibles no han aprofitat les eines online d'aprenentatge per a promoure les connexions en xarxa per a animar a aprendre en línea. La conclusió d'aquesta tesi és que aqueixos resultats són també vàlids per als contextos d'aprenentatge de FLL online i per açò l'èmfasi ha de ser posat a proporcionar als estudiants oportunitats per a treballar autònomament, crear espais que fomenten la interacció entre parells, donant lloc a un suport mutu i assegurar-se que els estudiants són conscients contínuament de la rellevància del que aprenen per a mantenir la motivació i la retentiva, adquirint d'aquesta manera coneixement. / D'arcy Hernández, LH. (2016). Intercultural communication in foreign language learning and retention in online learning [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/67692 / TESIS

This is a case study in a Norwegian junior high school where pupils and teachers have been interviewed about the pupils’ school motivation. The purpose of this study is to find out how the pupils and the teachers experience how the pupils’ motivation for learning is affected by moving the education and teaching from the school building to a farm nearby. The recorded interviews were analyzed by qualitative thematic analysis. The pupils express that their motivation mostly is promoted by external motivational factors, such as the farm itself, supportive relations and practical work. Teachers’ experience show that pupils’ motivation is affected by both external and internal factors and they mean that the biggest outcome is the fact that it helps the pupils strengthen their school identity, personal development and become better citizens in the future. Important effects that promote motivation are adapting the education to the students’ proximal development zone, scaffolding support at the farm and close holistic collaboration around the pupils. Challenges with using a farm are financial and organizational. The results show that pupils and teachers are over all convinced that the farm as an alternative educational arena promotes pupils’ motivation for learning.

Student motivation and technology use are important considerations for higher education institutions. With increasing proportions of institutional funding being tied to student success and retention outcomes, gaining an awareness of how students tend to be motivated as well as their comfort and skill level with technology is critical for supporting student success in the collegiate classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine motivations for learning and technology use by specific generations, Generation X and Generation Y, among participants in two learning settings, a four-year university and a two-year community college. Differences in motivation type including intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation, and technology proficiency were also assessed based on respondent gender and institution type. Results found that students from Generation Y had significantly higher scores on extrinsic motivation and amotivation compared to Generation X. Students in the two-year institution group scored significantly higher on intrinsic motivation compared to students from four-year institutions, and students from four-year institutions demonstrated significantly higher levels of amotivation. Female participants scored significantly higher than males on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and male participants scored significantly higher than females on the amotivation dimension than females. For technology use, participants from Generation X and participants from four-year institutions scored significantly higher than students from Generation Y and students from two-year institutions. No significant differences in technology use were found between male and female respondents.

Abstract The aim of this study is to expound on the gender discrepancy that is present in the English subject in the Swedish school, where female students generally and consistently attain higher grades. We do so by investigating any gender differences in motivation to learn a second language (L2). Further, we apply a gender perspective as we research the motivating effect of incidental English as L2 learning through out-of-school activities, known as extramural English (EE) activities. The study provides a summary of five articles that examine the effect that gender has on motivation and four articles that explore how exposure to and use of EE act as a motivator for male and female students separately. The articles show that female students in general are more motivated to learn an L2. Moreover, a possible explanation for this gender difference is different self-constructs and societal expectations. These findings are relevant to the Swedish educational context since the curriculum for the compulsory school states that all teaching should be equivalent, meaning that all students’ different needs and prerequisites should be taken into account. This includes variations in motivation. On the matter of EE activities, there is a stronger connection between time spent on EE hobbies and school performance for male students, especially for those who play digital games with a communicative aspect; this may offer a solution for the aforementioned gender discrepancy in grades. Nevertheless, there needs to be further research on how to bring the benefits from EE activities into the English classroom.

<p> There are three steps in planned learning: motivation, activity, and reinforcement. This project details the problems encountered by t eachers when they attempt to motivate and reinforce student learning. These problems in turn result in an emphasis on the selection of an activity. </p> <p> Of all the factors in motivation, it is proposed that an increase in one of them the willingness to learn will have a greater effect on learning than the choice of an activity, and that this increase can be accomplished by showing the students how the content to be learned can be immediately useful to them. </p> <p> The genetics unit from the grade thirteen biology course is amended in order to illustrate just how a teacher can alter a course to make it more useful to the students and yet still meet any future academic requirements. By having students apply theoretical knowledge to resolve life problems, it is suggested that student willingness to study is enhanced and the overall motivation to learn is significantly increased. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

Tyrimo problema- praradę gebėjimą socializuotis, prisitaikyti visuomenėje, socialinės rizikos šeimų tėvai nesugeba patenkinti būtiniausių vaikų poreikių, neįstengia perduoti vaikams visuomenėje priimtų elgesio normų ir taisyklių. Tyrimo prielaida- socialinės rizikos šeimose augantys vaikai stokoja mokymosi motyvacijos, prisitinga pasitikėjimo savimi ir ryžto siekti tikslų, nes tėvų turimų gebėjimų nepakanka formuojant sąmoningą vaiko asmenybę. Tyrimo objektas- socialinės rizikos šeimų tėvų gebėjimai, kurie padėtų vaikams ugdytis.Tyrimo tikslas- nustatyti ryšį tarp tėvų turimų gebėjimų ir vaikų mokslo pasiekimų bei prisitaikymo mokyklos bendruomenėje. Pagrindiniai tyrimo uždaviniai- išanalizavus literatūrą, apžvelgti socialinės rizikos šeimų socialines ir psichologines problemas; apibūdinti tėvų gebėjimus, kurie turi įtakos vaikų mokymosi motyvacijai; išsiaiškinti, kokių tėvų gebėjimų stoka slopina vaikų pasitikėjimą savimi, sprendžiant iškylančias mokymosi problemas. Atlikto tyrimo duomenys leidžia daryti išvadą, kad neigiamą poveikį vaikų mokymosi motyvacijai turi socialinės rizikos šeimų tėvų abejingas požiūris į išsilavinimą, nesugebėjimas konkuruoti. Artimiausioje aplinkoje- šeimoje- susiformavęs nesugebėjimas bendrauti ir užmegzti socialinių ryšių neskatina pažinti jausmų ir jų valdyti, spręsti konfliktus konstruktyviai. Tai didina socialinę atskirtį mokykloje, kuri iššaukia negatyvų vaikų nusiteikimą mokymosi atžvilgiu, vengimą lankyti mokyklą. Taip pat galima daryti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The statement of the research paper: parents, who have lost the ability to socialize, to adapt in society, social risk families, fail to meet the minimum needs of the children, so the children are unable to communicate socially acceptable standards of conduct and rules. The study of social presumption: children, who are raised in families at social risk, have a lack of the learning motivation, self-confidence and resolve to achieve goals as parents do not have enough capacity to shape the child's conscious personality. The study object: The parenting skills for children’s developed learning stimulation in families at social risk. The aim of the research paper is to establish a connection between parents' skills and children's academic achievement and adaptation in the school community. The main objectives of the study is the review of social and psychological problems in families of social risk according to the analysis of the literature; to describe the capacity of parents to influence children's learning motivation; to find out what kind of lack of parents capacity suppresses the children's self-confidence by dealing the rising learning problems. The survey data suggest that the negative impact on children's learning motivation to disadvantaged families’ parents’ indifferent approach to education, an inability to compete Parents in families at social risk have indifferent attitude to education and inability to compete which one has a negative impact on children's... [to full text]

L2 motivational research may be described as an ongoing quest to identify motivational attributes underlying motivated language learning behaviour. This study employs a novel theoretical and methodological focus in this endeavour: firstly, it applies theories of the self to a motivational exploration of L2 motivation involving first-year students studying towards German degree courses at two major UK universities. Secondly, the study explicitly addresses the time- and context-sensitive nature of motivational attributes. While the majority of L2 motivational studies treat motivational attributes as static and rely heavily on one-off surveys, this study uses a longitudinal mixed-methods approach. Questionnaires were administered at the beginning and at the end of the academic year, and students were interviewed five times over the course of the academic year. Results suggest that the concept of integrative orientation in its traditional sense plays a minor role for these students. The concepts of the ideal L2 self and intrinsic motivation are better suited to capture these students’ motivation for studying German, and together with self-efficacy beliefs they offer a good basis for understanding students’ motivated engagement with language learning throughout the year. However, the data also reveal that considerable changes take place during the course of the year. Importantly, students’ intrinsic motivation significantly decreases and so do self-efficacy beliefs for speaking and listening, a trend concomitant with decreasing effort to engage with language learning. The qualitative data shed light on the motivational changes observed, and provide a detailed and rich picture of the interplay between motivation and contextual factors. Based on the empirical insights gained, a theoretical framework is proposed which links the motivational attributes examined and situates them within multilayered contextual spheres. The thesis concludes by outlining pedagogical suggestions how to counteract decreasing motivation during the first year at university.

This study examines if a relationship exists among three rich research streams, specifically the behavioral science of motivation, adult learning and leadership. What motivates adult professionals to continue learning and how is that connected to their style and efficacy as leaders? An extension of literature to connect Andragogy, Self-determination and Transformational Leadership Theory is explored. Responses to questions adapted from the Carré Model of Adult Orientation and Implication on Learning and Training Activities (Carré, 1997) and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Avolio & Bass, 2000) are compared among a sample of adult professionals in leadership positions. Results indicate that learning motivation orientation is predictive of and positively correlated with leadership style. How learning motivation can be used as a tool to predict leadership style, enhance leader selection, development and succession is discussed along with further implications of the “learner-leader” for the purposes of research, practice and higher education initiatives. This quantitative study can offer important insights into how the attribute of an intrinsic motivation to learn can act as an antecedent to Transformational leadership behavior, and the impact that Transformational leaders have upon their teams and organizations.

本研究旨在探討從小四開始學英語的國一新生的英語學習焦慮、學習動機和學習策略。參與研究的對象為來自台北縣四所公立國中的639位國一新生。 研究者採用外語課室焦慮問卷、動機強度問卷以及外語學習策略問卷為研究工具。除了問卷之外，也包括低分群學生的面訪。 本研究結果經由統計分析與面訪而產生。由敘述性統計分析獲得學習焦慮、學習動機強度與學習策略使用的情況，由皮爾森積差相關分析獲得學習焦慮、學習動機強度與學習策略使用的相關性。由獨立樣本t考驗得到性別與起始年齡影響性的差異比較以及高、低分同學問卷結果的比較。低分群同學的學習問題則經由面訪而得。 本研究主要發現如下: (一) 從小四開始學英語的國一新生沒有英語學習焦慮，他們有足夠的動機強度，也能使用各種學習策略。（二）學習焦慮負面影響學習動機以及學習策略，而學習動機與學習策略呈現正相關。此三者中，學習動機與學習策略的相關性較強。（三）性別與學習起始年齡顯著影響學習焦慮、學習動機與學習策略。男、女學生學習動機和學習策略使用上有顯著差異。然而，學習起始年齡顯著影響學習焦慮和學習策略的使用。（四）相較於其他學生，低分群學生的英語學習是焦慮的、動機強度稍低以及使用較少的學習策略。他們需要老師的協助。 綜觀上述，本研究者提供國中英語教師下列幾項建議以幫助國一新生的英語學習: 減少測驗的頻率及難度、練習社會策略、多留意男學生以及自小四才開始學英語的學生，以及提供多元補救教學課程以滿足低分群學生不同的學習需求。 / The study is intended to explore the learning situations of the beginning junior high school learners with English learning experience in Northern Taiwan. A total of 639 students from four junior high schools in Taipei County participated in the study. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), the Motivation Intensity Questionnaire (MIQ), and the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) were used as the study tools. Besides, a follow-up interview of anxious low-scoring students was also conducted. All the results were generated from statistic analysis and interview. The results of students’ learning anxiety and motivation, and strategy use were obtained through descriptive statistics. The correlations were from the Pearson’s Correlation. The comparisons of the effects of gender and initial learning grade and the questionnaire results of the low-scoring students and the non-low scoring students were through the independent-samples t-test. Meanwhile, the low-scoring students’ learning problems were explored through the interview. The major findings of the present study are stated as follows: 1. The beginning junior high school students with English learning experience in primary school in the present study did not seem to be anxious about English learning. Meanwhile, they had enough motivation intensity and could sometimes apply all kinds of language strategies. 2. Learning anxiety negatively correlated with the English learning motivation and the English learning strategy use, and English learning motivation correlated with strategy use positively. Among the three, motivation intensity and strategy use were more strongly related to each other. 3. Either gender or the initial learning grade significantly influenced the learning anxiety, motivation, and learning strategy use. There were significant differences between the male students and the female students in learning motivation and learning strategy use. And the initial English learning grade significantly influenced the English learning anxiety and learning strategy use. 4. The low-scoring students proved that they were more anxious, less motivated, and employed fewer learning strategies than the non-low scoring students. They needed various assistances from teachers. Based on the findings, the researcher suggests that junior high school English teachers take some measures to help their beginning learners. These measures include reducing the frequencies and the difficulties of tests, practicing social strategies, paying more attention to the male students and the students with fewer years of English learning experience, and supplying multiple remedial courses to meet the various needs of the low-scoring students.