Boosting boys' motivation in MFL

Barry Jones

Boys have been shown to do less well than girls when learning a Modern Foreign Language, an issue which was explored in Boys' performance in MFL. Since then, groups of teachers in different parts of the country have been putting into classroom practice the seven recommendations which the report makes. This book presents their projects and offers practical help for readers who may wish to use or adapt suggestions made. Materials are included, where appropriate, to illustrate and further exemplify what has been done. The projects involved boys (and girls) in 9–13 and 11–16 schools and, in the majority of situations, their motivation for learning a foreign language has improved, as has their self-esteem. learning a language is within their capabilities!

Boosting boys' motivation includes descriptions of boys helping their teachers devise materials using PowerPoint for younger learners in the school; a range of possibilities for active, physical participation; competitions which are designed to enhance 'personal bests'; the use of several forms of ICT; positive attitudes to homework engendered by an element of choice; links with groups abroad; and much more. All the projects have been trialled with groups of differing age ranges and abilities; many activities are applicable to primary languages.

Contents

Part 1: Helping boys to improve-school based projects
Focus on what we teach and real uses for the Modern Foreign Language | What learners can tell us | Making the learning purposes clear | Language models and instructions | Keeping up, catching up | First foreign language and second foreign language learning | Working together: MFL departmental strategies

Part 2: Participating schools-particular practices
How the projects came about and developed | An extended project. A case study of work carried out by Dirk Pereira, St Neots Community School | A focus on homework. Moira Edmunds, Support Teacher, MFL, Angus Council, Scotland | Conclusion

2005 | 80pp | ISBN-13: 978-1-904243-38-0 | ISBN-10: 1-904243-38-X | £12 | Order this title online

See also:
Making the case for languages at KS4 (NPF5)
Reflections on motivation (RoP6)

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