BUILDING CONFIDENCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: INSPIRING TECHNICALLY-ORIENTED STUDENTS TO LEARN SPANISH
BUILDING CONFIDENCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: INSPIRING TECHNICALLY-ORIENTED STUDENTS TO LEARN SPANISH

Summary/Abstract: "The main goal of this presentation is to analyze some successful strategies that teachers can use in order to motivate university students who are studying Spanish as a foreign language The profile of our students includes people aged between 19 and 23, engineers, having a technical background, and who wish to become an intercultural mediator and to discover more about Spanish language and culture. The method followed in this instance is educational research and the motivation types that characterize the learner's behavior: intrinsic (which goes from inner curiosity and inner satisfaction) and extrinsic (which comes from a reward or punishment given by the outside). Motivation for learning is individual and depends on the student. Therefore, a thing that works well with one student, may not be the case with another, so the ability to be flexible and creative in the pedagogical approaches is very important. From our point of view, there are basic strategies that can make a real difference in classroom motivation One of the most important strategies is to develop clear and obtainable objectives, as teachers need to design tasks and goals that are difficult, yet achievable, and well communicated If student know what is expected of them and perceive themselves as being able to accomplish that which is expected, then they will more likely remain engaged and confident. Well-defined directions promote motivation and decrease stress.Another principle is to apply the performance-results method. This involves acknowledging student effort with proper reward, feedback, and, if necessary; reasonable discipline. Motivation can be enhanced if students are able to perceive a definite connection between effort and result. External (grades, praise) and internal (self-satisfaction, growth) reinforcement are included.In a nutshell, we can certainly affirm that motivation isn't about making students work harder, it's about making them feel connected, supported, and excited about what they're learning. When students truly care about what they're doing, motivation just falls into place. "

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