Attitudes and motivation: how to motivate students to read in the foreign language?

النوع : Mémoire

The following study tackles the issue of attitudes and motivation and their effects on foreign language learning. In addition, the study focuses on reading as an essential skill to language acquisition and sheds light on the significance of reading motivation. Without motivation, students will likely refuse to read. Since motivation is an essential factor for foreign language acquisition, and since most students lack the motivation to read, this study focuses on how to create among students a motivation to read that can last a lifetime. In order to do that, different techniques and strategies were used in an empirical study that was conducted on students at the elementary level with ages ranging between eight and nine years. The study was accomplished over a span of three months administered during the third trimester of the school year. First, the study consisted of measuring, through a questionnaire, the level of students’ motivation to read in the foreign language, and providing techniques and strategies that can enhance their motivation. Second, students were asked to select and read stories online taken from a list of stories provided to them, and to complete a reading-log activity that accompanied each story. Third, the increase in their level of motivation and their interest in the given program were measured by a second questionnaire given during the middle of the study. Most students showed a desire and a will to continue reading. At the end of the study, a third questionnaire was given to the students as an evaluation of the whole program. The results demonstrated a great interest in the techniques and strategies used and a will to continue reading. However, this increase in motivation cannot proceed unless it is strongly supported by the parents and the school alike.