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    Think tank: Fostering motivation in language education

Think tank: "Fostering motivation in language education: what role for decision-makers and educators?"

Motivation represents a fundamental component of success and well-being in any area of life – driving action, enhancing performance, promoting learning and development, and contributing to overall satisfaction and resilience. This think tank will focus on the particular significance of motivation in relation to the world of language education. 

Overview

According to the 2023 edition of the Eurydice report for the European Union - Key data on teaching languages at school in Europe – there has been a decrease in the percentage of students in lower secondary education learning two or more foreign languages since the 2013 edition. Moreover, the findings are even less auspicious in the context of secondary vocational education. 

This is in stark contrast to the situation regarding the learning of English; more and more education systems are introducing English at an earlier age (in primary or even pre-primary) and currently almost all students in lower secondary are learning English. 

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Objectives

The think tank will aim to achieve the following objectives:

  • strengthen awareness of the importance of addressing motivational issues related to the learning of languages other than/in addition to English; 
  • take stock of research trends on motivation and highlight examples of interesting educational practice which are potentially transferable/adaptable to other countries and contexts;
  • identify key factors influencing motivation; 
  • publish inspiring examples and the Motivation Manifesto on the forthcoming dedicated website: www.ecml.at/motivation; consider the potential for further action at a European level in this area

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Programme

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Think tank report

by David Little

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Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.
William Butler Yeats

Participant reflections

 
 
"Thinkmas": a tree of shared thoughts, ideas and inspirations

Hover over the Christmas decorations to discover thoughtful suggestions, reflections and ideas for supporting this important cause, shared by think tank participants.



   Wesołych Świąt!

   Working together as a team of professionals to enhance plurilingualism.
   Make a theatre play with my teenage group.
   Thank you for these sharings.

   Continue to promote plurilingualism among parents.
   Engage policymakers on every occasion.
   Report on Think Tank day content to members to raise awareness of initiatives in place.

   Sharing.
   I commit myself to continuing to provide empirical evidence of the benefits of including all languages in education.
   Patience.
   Idea of language ambassadors!
   Sharing this learning.

   Help find concrete examples for the field.
   Renforcer l'éducation plurilingue et interculturelle par une formation à la démocratie scolaire.
   Connection + support.
   New research about students' motivation and insights about how they visualise L3 as practical and useful. (Norway)
   Promote family language policy for heritage language learning.
   Promote more languages in schools and classrooms.
    Inspire pre- and in-service teachers. Try to influence policymakers.
   Creative ideas.

   Help schools with Roma students to use plurilingualism to motivate students.
   I will keep in mind and communicate the importance of plurilingual and intercultural language education in development.
   Play and sing with my kids in the classroom.
   Compliment teachers and educators who already do this amazing work.
   Together we can climb the “Language Everest.”
   Actively expose + engage teachers-in-training with dynamic plurilingual and intercultural goals.
   Promote learning foreign languages as a teacher, mother, and decision maker at the Ministry.


   Reception in policymaking.
   Networking.
   Bring together researchers to emphasise the “evidence-informed” method of plurilingualism.
   I will give more space to reading and discussion about interculturalism and plurilingualism in the teacher programme.
   I can share my experiences as a language teacher. I know how to make language learning interesting.
   Inspire future teachers of plurilingual and intercultural awareness!
   I'll remember that when students feel their contribution matters, they are more motivated.
   Promote pluricultural and plurilingual education.


   Plurilingual practices for all.
   Congratulations on such an amazing event!
   Help connect teacher education with policy.
   Many challenges in policy and teaching!
   A copy of “Language and Languages in the Primary School” to every school + stakeholder in Ireland. Authors: David Little and Déirdre Kirwan.
   Think Tank, thank you!
   Inform and inspire colleague teacher educators/teachers.
   Promoting home languages in French and English immersion pedagogy.
   As a teacher educator, motivate teachers so they can motivate their students.


   Raising awareness of motivation (strategies, techniques) in pre-service education.
   Organise a network event on how to bridge principles and practice.
   I will go home and share my experiences with my colleagues and tell them that we are not alone.
   Raising awareness.
   Go on like this!
   Teach French immersion and in French at the graduate level.
   Share all that with my colleagues at work.
   I will motivate future language teachers.

   Training teachers.
   Thanks! ¡Gracias!
   Bring the conclusions of today’s discussion to our teachers and policymakers.
   More languages present at the university – students, academic staff, administrative staff, non-academic staff.
   Political commitment for the importance of foreign languages [...].
   1. Inspiring my current and future students to appreciate plurilingualism and multiculturality. 2. Doing research and publishing on motivation for [...].
   Plurilingualism in the classrooms!
   I will go on learning more languages.
   Go on believing in these ideas.
   Bringing relevant partners together (national level).
   Discuss the outcomes of today with students, teacher associations, teacher educators, and policymakers.

   Foster the motivation of teachers (especially second foreign language) to motivate students.


   Financing inspiring projects.
   I will keep in mind and communicate the importance of plurilingual and intercultural language education in curriculum development.
   Translanguaging pedagogies.
   Keep taking the initiative to promote plurilingualism.
   Engage with parents. Conduct research on evidence of plurilingual and intercultural approaches.
   Umrežimo se!
   Compartir.
   Continuer à renforcer l'éducation plurilingue dans la formation des enseignants et les pratiques de classe.
   Utiliser la JA pour consolider le dialogue interculturel et sensibiliser à la diversité des langues.
   Changer la formation des enseignants -> favoriser la motivation des élèves.
   Aider à la dissemination des idées évoquées au cours de cette belle journée.

 

The presentations

Eurydice key data/Eurobarometer – what do they tell us?
Anna Solé Mena, European Commission
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Engendering positive change – evidence-based examples from both a national and a European perspective
Jonas Erin, Ministry of National Education
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Rationales and motivation for language learning beyond global English
Ursula Lanvers, University of York
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Teach to motivate in Romania's education system
Cristina Blaj, Ministry of Education
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Motivation in language education in minoritised language contexts: Language attitudes and language policy
Ada Bier, University of the Basque Country
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Stimulating modern language learning: analysis and actions in Denmark
Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska, Danish Centre for Foreign languages
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Creating space for additional foreign languages: opportunities and challenges
Marika Peekmann, Ministry of Education and Research
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Using visualisation and self-concept to better understand the motivational process in the foreign language classroom
Céline Rocher Hahlin, Dalarna University
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Enhancing motivation for language learning: the promise of plurilingual and intercultural education
David Little, Council of Europe expert
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Speakers

Anna Solé Mena
European Commission

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Jonas Erin
Ministry of National Education 

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Ursula Lanvers
University of York 

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Cristina Blaj
Ministry of Education 

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Ada Bier
University of the Basque Country 

View biography

Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska
Danish Centre for Foreign languages

View biography

Marika Peekmann
Ministry of Education and Research 

View biography

Céline Rocher Hahlin
Dalarna University

View biography

David Little
Council of Europe expert

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Photo gallery



This initiative is carried out within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the European Centre for Modern Languages and the European Commission, entitled
Innovative Methodologies and Assessment in language learning
www.ecml.at/ec-cooperation