Observations On English Learning Motivation In Vocational Schools

With the development of social constructivism, more and more attention has been paid to affective factors in education. Motivation, as one of the most important affective factors, influences on the language learning and teaching. It has been attracting the researchers for a long time. Garden and Lamber divided foreign language learning motivations into instrumental and integrative motivation. Another classification is intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. In addition, there is long-term motivation, short-term motivation, achievement motivation and so on. No matter which type of motivation it is, it has a great impact on foreign language learning and teaching.The study is carried out on 78 students who are majoring in tourism in a vocational school, based on their forth-term final English examination achievements. A small scale questionnaire was used to investigate students' English learning motivation in vocational school. The study revealed that: 1) most of the vocational school students' English learning motivation is instrumental motivation or certificate motivation. 2) successful learners have intrinsic motivation. 3) unsuccessful learners have extrinsic motivation. 4) both successful learners and unsuccessful learners spend nearly the same time learning EnglishSocial constructivism includes the following four schools of thought: humanism,cognition, constructivism and social interactionism. It emphasizes respecting the learners' personal affect and personal need. It stresses the personal meaningful learning, whole-person education including cognition and affection.This thesis is in the light of social constructivism. It analyzes the students' English learning motivation in vocational schools on the basis of M. Williams and R. L. Burden's three-stage model of motivation and the result of the investigation. It also illustrates causes of formed motivation.Eight education suggestions are put forward based on the study: 1) Recognize the complexity of motivation. 2) Stimulate the students' learning interest.3) Build up a supportive learning environment. 4) Encourage the learner' sustaining motivation.5) Bring teachers into full play in encouraging the students' intrinsic motivation. 6) Give informational feedback. 7) Build up individuals' beliefs in themselves.8) Provide the students with authentic materials.