When studying English
as a Foreign Language, children and adults have different reasons for learning
and degrees of motivation. Adults usually study because they have concrete reasons.
Perhaps they need to use English at work. Possibly they will be posted overseas
in the near future. They may be interested in foreign culture and studying English
helps them to enjoy their interest. There may be a few English-speaking foreigners
in their neighbourhood and they wish to be able to communicate more fluently with
them.
Children have entirely different reasons for studying . In nearly
all cases they will study English because their parents or school
teacher decide they should. Children have no natural inclination to
study English as a foreign language because they can fulfill all their
needs in their native language. Here in Japan they can do all the
things they like to do; talk to friends, read books and comics, watch
television and play computer games in Japanese. There is no compelling
reason (unlike adults) for them to want to learn and use English.
So one way to motivate children to learn English is to make it enjoyable
and rewarding. The more enjoyable the study of English is, the more
memorable the new language will be. A very successful way to do this
is to use language games in the classroom. Learners will gain a sense
of achievement from participating in these games which will give them
motivation for further learning..
This positive attitude towards learning English is perhaps one of
the most valuable things that teachers can transmit to children. Incidentally,
playing games stimulates other areas of development such as the ability
to co-operate, to compete without being aggressive, and to be a 'good
loser'. |
大人は仕事上の必要性や､自分の興味から英語を習い始めますが子どもたちには英語を習う強い動機がありません。 友だちと話したり､漫画を読んだり､テレビを観たり､日本語さえ知っていれば､他にやりたいことは何でもできるのです。子どもたちに英語を習いたいという気持ちを起こさせるには､学習を楽しく､努力し甲斐のあるものにする必要があります。楽しければ楽しいほど､英語の学習は記憶に定着します。
授業でゲームを活用する理由はここにあります。ゲームに参加することで達成感を得ることができ､それが今後の学習に対する意欲へとつながっていきます｡
この前向きな姿勢こそ、教師が生徒に与えることのできる最高の贈り物ではないでしょうか。
またゲームを通して、協力し合う気持ちや、競い合ってもけんかをしないこと､ ｢立派な敗者｣になることも学んでいくのです。 |
