Entry 4: Reflection Writing
In taking this course, I have
developed an understanding for how a second language is acquired. Personally, I
have aspirations to speak a new language, so learning about this process was
very enjoyable. I learned the multiple classifications for being a bilingual,
and the many things that impact ones learning of a second language. For
example, their age or their motivation. I feel that motivation is step one in
learning anything new, so I really enjoyed reading about how it ties into
acquiring a new language. I agree with Ortega completely when he says that
motivation is the desire to learn something new and the effort put forth to
sustain it (Ortega, 2013). This quote not only stuck with me throughout this
course, but it will continue to stick with me throughout my teaching career.
Although it is such a small quote, I find it brings a powerful message.
Learning anything new is not just having a desire or a want to learn about something.
It is also about continuing to put forth the effort afterward. This is what
education is. Education is about children learning something new, and we hope
this is because they want to learn and enjoy learning. Education is also about
the effort students put forth outside of school, and after they finish school.
Anything we accomplish in life comes from having a desire to do it, and having
the desire to continue doing it. We are not just teaching curriculum, but we
are teaching morals and teaching about character. To succeed, you must try.
Motivation
is the topic I chose for my research paper, and is also the topic that I feel
will impact my educational practice. This course helped me understand the
importance of motivation and where it comes from. Not just in the acquisition
of another language, but in any learning process. I believe motivation comes
primarily from interactions, and I discovered many articles that tied to this
same theory. If not for this course, I may have never read those articles, so I
definitely feel that this course helped me in my path to become an educator. I
am not sure one particular topic stands out in my mind as needing to be addressed
more or less in the future of the course. However, I always find it important
to talk about differentiated instruction so I would not have hated diving into
that a little bit more.
The interactions with other classmates,
and creating my own VBlog entries both developed me as a future teacher. It
helped me in analyzing things from multiple perspectives, and reminded me that
everyone interprets things differently. The assignments also helped me with
time management and communication. All these things help make a great teacher. My
VBlog made me step out of my comfort area and learn about other people. That is
something we do every day as an educator. Having an understanding of our
students and peers is very important, and this VBlog helps with this. I got to
read about many other student’s and teacher’s journey. Not only their path in
acquiring multiple languages, but their path to becoming a successful teacher. I
thought this course gave as a fun and interactive way to acquire knowledge from
other individuals. A lot of whom may have had a similar path that we have.
Remy,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you regarding the Vblogs. I myself was sent out of my comfort zone when having to record these while also knowing others would see them. I do feel that this course has helped me gain confidence in that area as well as communication and time management like you talked about. I agree that motivation is something that is required to be successful at any level, but most importantly when doing something new. I mentioned this same thing in my reflection as motivation was a reoccurring pattern throughout this course that I seemed to stumble upon. Ortega (2013) talks about how as motivation is used to be more successful in the L2, more motivation is gained and how this cycle will be continuous (p. 189). This idea goes to show the depth and importance of motivation.
Hey, Emily! I agree, I feel like this course and these blogs have given me confidence with my communication skills. This is super important as an educator, not only in communicating with our students but with parents and fellow staff as well. I am not a shy person, but I too was nervous in posting these blogs at first knowing they could be read by people I do not know. I like what you mentioned about motivation because I feel like it relates to this assignment. The more we posted on here, the more comfortable we became. I also think it helped to have that social support that Ortega discusses. In acquiring a second language, that support from peers boosts their motivation because they believe that someone wants them to learn (Ortega, 2013). For this assignment I felt like fellow classmates enjoyed communicating which boosted my confidence and motivation to participate. It gets fun to tie things like this together.
DeleteHi Remy, reading your reflection was inspirational to me because you talked about how education is more than just the desire to learn something new, but also the effort to sustain the learning. Although teachers are in charge of teaching the students in the classroom, it is up to the students to practice what they have learned at home. Students must keep putting in the effort to succeed in learning. Ortega states that “positive attitudes towards the learning context as well as the L2 community and culture and current satisfaction with teachers and instruction can boost motivation considerably” (2013, p. 190). You mentioned that you believe that motivation primarily comes from interactions. When the students have positive attitudes and interactions with their L2 learning environment, they are able to increase their motivation and work harder toward learning the second language.
ReplyDeleteHey, Angela! I am so happy to hear that my reflection was inspirational. I agree with you completely! Learning is a two-way street. We have to teach, but the students must want to learn. I feel that interactions boost motivation because it is human nature to want to succeed for our peers. We want to make others happy, or we want to prove things to someone, or make others happy. You are right, it is the positive interactions and attitudes that help foster an environment where students feel comfortable and motivated to learn. As Ortega mentions, we must encourage our students to have a positive attitude toward the curriculum and toward us as teachers (Ortega, 2013).
DeleteHi Remy, I enjoyed reading your reflection and think it is awesome that you would like to learn a second language! I also found it interesting that you noted the importance of motivation in second language acquisition and that you choose that as your research paper topic. Gass and Selinker state that “a question regarding motivation and second language learning is whether it is better to say that motivation predicts success, in that the more successful one has been in language learning, the more motivated one will be to learn more.” (Gass & Selinker, p. 428). This makes such a great connection because it accentuates how motivation has such a complex role in language learning.
ReplyDeleteHey, Jennifer! I love the connection you made from Gass and Selinker! I feel it is so true because once we learn something, we build confidence and often find success in learning more. I enjoy finding connections between the several books we read for this class. Gass and Selinker said that quote, while Ortega mentions something very similar. Emily actually references this quote above so it is interesting to witness all of us make connections with all of this. Ortega says that motivation is used to become more successful, which can result in even more motivation being gained (Ortega, 2013). Very similar perspectives on the learning of a second language.
DeleteHey Remy! I’m glad motivation was an important topic for you because I also believe you must be motivated because the students feed off from their educators especially if the see them as a role model. A chapter that spoke about this is in Ortega’s book chapter 8.4, there are many other sections but this section really stood out to me because it mentions some first signs of determination and different types of motivation (2013). Thank you for all your insight this semester!
ReplyDeleteHey, Cesia! I enjoyed your insight this semester as well! This Vblog assignment was very enjoyable for me in getting to know my classmates and hearing their perspectives. Chapter 8 in Ortega's book is definitely the chapter that stood out to me the most as well. I felt like it stuck with me because I have always had that belief in motivation being key to learning. In reference to that chapter, I enjoyed reading about how ones attitudes relate to motivation. Specifically how ones attitude toward L2 and its speakers contribute to increased or diminished motivation (Ortega, 2013). This relates to the belief that in order to learn anything, there has to be a desire to do so.
DeleteHi Remy! I really liked reading your reflection and I thought it was interesting how you emphasized how important motivation is not only in language learning, but in everything related to education as well. Ortega (2013, p. 171) highlights that Gardner (2001) felt that “the highest and most facilitative form of motivation is…integrative motivation, which is attained only when three conditions are met: (1) the antecedent of integrativeness ... (2) motivation quantity…and (3) attitudes…” Thus, language learners who seek to be a part of the community are more motivated to learn the L2. Similarly, if we think about motivating students in all subjects, students should find their learning purposeful and applicable to them.
ReplyDeleteHey, Krystal! I agree with your response completely! I feel we have to make learning purposeful and a great way to do that is to relate our content to real life situations. As a future educator I plan to tie real life scenarios into my lessons to help students understand that the content does have a purpose and can benefit them in life. I feel that making these connections is yet another form of motivation. Ortega talks about orientations, which are reasons for wanting to learn the L2 (Ortega, 2013). These reasons influence the intensity of the motivation. I feel that relating to real life experiences will produce a large amount of motivation because it gives the learning purpose.
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