230588 Language Learner Motivation and Individual Learner Differences (S) (WiSe 2006/2007)

This course will explore theories of motivation which are relevant to foreign language learning. Throughout the course attention will be drawn to individual variation among learners concerning motivation and the criterial learner variables involved. Relevant psychological and attitudinal differences among learners will be considered. Some reference will be made here to relevant work in educational psychology, especially attribution theory. We will be concerned both with intensity of motivation and type of motivation. In this latter regard we will distinguish between instrumental and integrative motivation in language learning.

Special emphasis will be placed on the extent to which learner motivation can be influenced by the teacher. We will take a developmental view of motivation, distinguishing among initial motivation, motivation in the early stages of learning and continuing motivation over a number of years. We will see how teachers can work with learners to ensure that motivation continues over time. Some attention will be given to the phenomenon of anxiety in the language classroom as a demotivating factor, and we will see how the teacher can act to lower anxiety levels. We will look at the special needs of the poorly motivated learner and examine the factors which make for continuing motivation. Finally, we will link language learning motivation to the issue of learner autonomy and self-motivation.

Two students will be expected to briefly introduce a topic from the course plan each week. Students will be asked to keep a course diary. Students will need to purchase the course book:

Z. Dörnyei. Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2001.