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| pupils attitudes |
We have just looked at pupils' feelings and the factors that influence them. Now we will consider teachers views about their pupils. A group of Spanish primary English teachers were asked to give their opinions on how their pupils felt about learning English. Some of their replies are given below.
What do teachers think influences pupils' attitudes?
Compare the teachers views of pupils attitudes with what pupils said earlier. Do the views match?
Children like English (some of them) because they do different activities in the English class
Children like English because it is the language of the Ninja turtles
They're learning English because it is a subject included in the official curriculum
They will feel English as a duty or as an alive language, a vehicle of communication, depending on the way you teach
Young children like it a lot but they don,t decide whether they have to (should) learn or not
My children (Class 3 and 4) like English when it is a game. After this, when they must study or work, they don't like English, but they don,t like any subjects anyway
They like it less as time goes by or as an effort is demanded
In general, children do not like English
Teachers and pupils both mention the teaching method and a focus on games and communication as being very important. They also both refer to the influence of youth culture. One child says it is cool to learn English. Teachers also point out that children have no real need for the language they have to learn it because it is on the curriculum. The older pupils quoted earlier, however, all see a need for English. Two teachers indicate how attitudes change as pupils move up the school and more effort is demanded.
Think about why attitudes seem to change as pupils get older Is it because teaching methods get less interesting, more formal and more exam-oriented? Or is it because pupils are changing emotionally, physically and cognitively and are becoming more influenced by youth culture and peer opinion, which are sometimes anti-school?
The last comment says 'Children do not like English' Is this the teacher's attitude rather than the pupils' attitude? As teachers, do we really know what our pupils think? Have we asked them? If a teacher thinks that pupils don't like English maybe this reflects his/her own opinion about English not the pupils opinion. Our attitudes to English can affect pupils attitudes positively or negatively.
It is important to find out what our pupils, attitudes are from time to time. We can't assume that we know what they are Children are every bit as complex emotionally as adults, and are equally affected by their experiences with regard to their language learning.
The results of teachers investigations of their pupils attitudes show that positive attitudes are closely linked to successful learning. We need to keep in touch with how pupils feel, so that we can help to counteract negative attitudes and build on positive ones.