The purpose of this qualitative study done in 2003 was to determine which factors motivated the adult learners who were employed full time to pursue and complete a college degree at a Southern California university complex. Using a structured survey which included Q-Sort and Likert Scale methodologies followed by in-depth interviews, the study's…

Studied the effect of collecting, correcting, and grading homework on student mastery of course content and the student activity and attitudes toward homework assignments. Concluded that there were no significant effects on academic achievement and students probably did not realize the importance of feedback in their homework activity. (CC)

A recommended class activity is a simple gift exchange. Vocabulary, including a wide range of options, holiday terms, and idioms, is introduced at the beginning of class. Partners are assigned, exchange takes place, and thank-you notes may be written. Student enthusiasm and attention are often by-products. (MSE)

Describes a survey instrument developed to study the behavioral characteristics of gifted and talented foreign language learners. The survey was sent to selected teachers of French, German, and Spanish to determine how they perceived the characteristics of these students. The lists of characteristics obtained were rank-ordered by knowledgeable…

Examined relationship between field dependence/independence and motivational factors in second language (French) learning for 414 Ontario (Canada) university undergraduates. Implied the relationship between degree of psychological differentiation and the second language acquisition task is multifactorial in nature. Suggested extreme field…

Briefly examines research on motivation. Discusses the importance of applying motivation principles to instructional design. Describes the following motivators that can be incorporated into the context of a learning activity: action; fun; choice; social interaction; error tolerance; measurement; feedback; challenge; and recognition. (AEF)

A Shakespearean play was taught in a resource room with students with learning disabilities in grades 10 through 12, in a manner that took advantage of the students' learning differences. Questions about "Macbeth" were developed and investigated before reading the play. The experience increased self-esteem and academic motivation. (SW)

Interviews with 12 students each from grades 1 through 4 found students' attitudes could be placed in four categories differing on attitudes toward school learning, homework, and personal learning projects. More students with than without learning disabilities fell into the category which saw almost all learning as an imposition. (DB)

Ten suggestions for fostering motivation in adolescents with learning disabilities include encourage choices; advocate ownership; strive for relevance; give positive and negative feedback; set high, but manageable expectations; encourage activity and interaction; and model--share your enthusiasm for books. (DB)

Presents the design, national standardization, and validation of the Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale. A normative sample (N = 100) of preschoolers yielded distinct and reliable dimensions of Competence Motivation, Attention/Persistence, and Attitude Toward Learning. Correlations demonstrated validity convergence with indices of social skills,…

Understanding student motivation, why it breaks down, and how it can be supported or enhanced, is critical to good teaching. Following recent research discoveries, eagerness to learn is now viewed as an inherent capacity in all students when they have a positive view of themselves and a supportive learning environment. In this brief article, the…

In spite of long-standing political tensions between Japan and the People's Republic of China, Japanese remains a highly popular language to learn in Hong Kong. This is evidenced by the growth in number of Japanese-related courses and programmes offered at schools and universities in the Special Administrative Region. Although Japan is a dominant…

Most practitioners teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) will agree that students come with some expectations about course content and teaching methodology and that these expectations play a vital role in student motivation and learning. However, the study of student expectations has been a surprising omission from Second…

This paper describes a survey that assessed the attitudes toward English among university students in Macao five years after it reunited with the People's Republic of China and ceased to be a Portuguese colony. A group of 144 Macao-born and 197 Mainland-born Chinese students studying in a university in Macao were surveyed using a 22-item…

Background: Two main approaches to studying have been distinguished by several researchers, the deep approach and the surface approach. In addition, an achieving or strategic approach employs either deep or surface strategies, depending on the demands of the task. Aims: The present study investigated factors contributing to the choice of…