1. INTRODUCTION
When I ask some people ‘what is motivation?’, they give different definitions.They have
different personalities and different needs and I think that’s why they give different definitions
for motivation.However, no matter what are their personalities or needs,the definitions they
give are like the arms of a river.Exactly,we do know motivation,but in terms of its being used as
a facilitator to achieve goals,I can’t say the same thing.I have been educated by many teachers
until now and I have experienced their ways of motivating students.Some of them just look
directly into the student’s eyes while some of them threat students with
grade.Furthermore,some of them even use punishment like getting student out of
classroom,waiting student in front of the classroom on just one of his/her her foot.Sometimes
they call for parental meeting so that the student can be punished or warned by his/her
parents.The teachers sometimes use their voice as a gun.I mean they use their voice for
shouting.In addition,some teachers are flexible in their teaching.They act in the way students
want.I can give many other examples,but there is no point in mentioning all about.The teachers
that act as above may think taht they do well in this way,buut I don’t think so.When they do
so,the situation get worse.They are unaware of the fact that punishment is a negative motivator
and people perform at alevel just sufficient to avoid punishment.What about you? Do you think
that you have different styles for motivating your students? If you have different objectives
from the ones taht I have already listed and if you think punishment is a negative motivator,I
think you are in the right way and you can do well for your students.Now let’s have look what is
motivation and what it means for our teaching.
MOTIVATION
Motivation is the force that initiates,guides and maintains goal - oriented behaviors.It is
what causes us to take action,whether to grab a snack to reduce hunger or enroll in college to
earn a degree.The forces that lie beneath motivation can be biological,social,emotional or
cognitive in nature.In everyday usage,motivation is frequently used to describe why a person
does something.For example,you might say that a student is so motivated to pass exam that he
or she spends every night studying.
Teories of Motivaiton
Researchers have developed a number of different teories to explain motivation.These
teories are instinc teory of motivation,incentive teory of motivation,drive teory of
motivation,arousal teoty of motivation,and humanistic teory of motivation.However,between
all tese teories,the humanistic teory of motivation is more valuable and appliable than others in
my opinion.Because humanistic teories of motivation are based on the idea that people also
have strong cognitive reasons to perform various actions.This is famously illustrated in Abraham

2. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,which presents different motivations at different levels.He thought
that the behavior of individuals at a particular moment is usually determined by their strongest
need and before fulfiling the strongest need,we can’t pass for another needs.According to
Maslow,there seems to be a hierarchy into wihich human needs arrange themselves.The
physiological needs are shown at the top of the hierarchy because they tend to have the highest
strength until they are somewhat satisfied.There are the basic human needs to sustain life itself-
food,clothing,shelter.Until these basic needs are satisfied to the degree needed fort he
sufficient operation of body,the majority of aperson’s activity will probably be at lower level
and the other needs will provide little motivation.
But, what happens to a person’s motivation when these basic needs begin to be fulfilled?
Instead of physiological needs,other levels of needs become important,and these motivate and
dominate the behavior of the individual.And when these needs are somewhat satiated,other
needs emerge,and so on down the hierarchy.
Motivation Problems
As we live in a globalised knowledge society,the education that we take becomes more
important to be able to manage in this society.Inevitably,this knowledge society brings
competition.We need not just education, but also economic,psychologic,physiologic,and
sociological balance so as to compete with the others.I know some people that can’t complete
their education and have to give up at the middle of their education.And even,I know people
that have to work before or after school.While the situation is so,how can we talk about
motivation?.How can we expect these people to be successful? I mean that all the other factors

3. can somewhat effect the education we take.Therefore, in all parts of education system we find
ourselves more or less constantly in situations where the motivation of the participants is under
pressure.In the concrete contexts it is usually a matter of double pressure on the
motivation.This comes partly from within the individual in the form of uncertainty,about what
and how one should preferably try to learn and if one is goog enough at it.At the same time, it
also comes from the outside in the foorm of requirements,expectations,stricter rules and more
control.There are probably some who likes this situation where the pressure makes them work
harder,and there is positive reinforcement when they experience being able to manage it and
improving.But, especially those who are the weakest to start with have difficulty in handling
it.They become more in secure and their motivation becomes veryembivalent,at one and the
same time they would like to qualify themselves,because this is after all necessary,butthey also
strongly wish they could escape it,because it is a strain and they are afraid of adding yet more
defeats to those they have already experienced.
As we already know that motivation is a key factor to achieve our goals and to complete our
needs,what if our students are unmotivated or less motivated in the learning process? Then, I
think the question should be ‘how to motivate our students to learn?
How to motivate our students to learn?
Motivation,arouses,sustains,directs,and determines the intensity of learning
effort.Therefore,it is said that without motivation learning is not possible at any
level.Motivation is at the hearth of learning.motivated students are excited to be at
school,eager to learn,and focused on lessons.So, as teachers why not to use some motivation
strategies to support our teaching and to get best results.Following are some researched-based
strategies for motivating students to learn;
• Create a positive atmosphere.The classroom should be a place where students enjoy
spending time and feel safe.Avoid using negative words and classroom discipline
measures;instead teach students how to encourage one another.
• Praise student often.Frequent praise that tells student what they are doing well can
motivate them to try harder in areas where they don’t do well.Even if a child is not
following directions or does not comprehend a lesson,find something small to praise
along with the gentle correction or re-teaching when necessary.For example,if a child
doesn’t understand a concept,praise him for his effort and explain the concept again.
• Connect concepts to your students’ lives.Lessons that hold little meaning to a student
will not be as motivating as lessons to which she can relate personally.Find ways to apply
each lessons to the individual situations in which your students might find themselves.

4. • Involve students in lessons.By keeping students active participants in the learning
process,they will be more involved and motivated to learn.Use projects,group
discussions,games etc.
• The pressure on the student must be minimized,for example,remove the competition or
social comparison,revişe the grading system.
• Ensure that the task is often appropriate level of challenge for students’ age and ability
level.If it is too easy,the student will be bored and unmotivated.A level of difficulty
above the student’s ability could lead to frustration and giving up.
• The structure of the learning exercise effects the level of motivation.There must be clear
instructions given.The student must be sure of what is expected of him or her.
• Use peer models. Students can learn by watching a peer succeed at a task. In this
context, a peer means someone who the student identities with, not necessarily any
other student. Peers may be drawn from groups as defined by gender, ethnicity, social
circles, interests, achievement level, clothing, or age.
• Adopt a supportive style. A supportive teaching style that allows for student autonomy
can foster increased student interest, enjoyment, engagement and performance.
Supportive teacher behaviors include listening, giving hints and encouragement, being
responsive to student questions and showing empathy for students.
• Establish a sense of belonging. People have a fundamental need to feel connected or
related to other people. In an academic environment, research shows that students who
feel they 'belong' have a higher degree of intrinsic motivation and academic confidence.
According to students, their sense of belonging is fostered by an instructor that
demonstrates warmth and openness, encourages student participation, is enthusiastic,
friendly and helpful, and is organized and prepared for class.
• Make it real. In order to foster intrinsic motivation, try to create learning activities that
are based on topics that are relevant to your students' lives. Strategies include using
local examples, teaching with events in the news, using pop culture technology (iPods,
cell phones, YouTube videos) to teach, or connecting the subject with your students'
culture, outside interests or social lives.
CONCLUSION
Before anything,we should know that once upon a time we were also student and we can
easily assume what a student might need.We can predict a students’ like,dislikes and what can

5. be boring or funny for the student,too.In that case,we can help them for better learning.If we
know the student physchology,we can help him or her be ready for the learning process.We
should know whether our students are motivated for learning or not.As teachers,we are to
speak with our students.We should be aware of the fact that interaction between the teacher
and students is crucial.We shouldn’t forget that we can be a good model to our students.We are
to know that motivation,arouses,sustains,directs,and determines the intensity of learning
effort.Therefore,it is said that without motivation learning is not possible at any
level.Motivation is at the hearth of learning. In short, when students are treated well, respected,
encouraged and the work has meaning high levels of motivation will automatically develop.

6. be boring or funny for the student,too.In that case,we can help them for better learning.If we
know the student physchology,we can help him or her be ready for the learning process.We
should know whether our students are motivated for learning or not.As teachers,we are to
speak with our students.We should be aware of the fact that interaction between the teacher
and students is crucial.We shouldn’t forget that we can be a good model to our students.We are
to know that motivation,arouses,sustains,directs,and determines the intensity of learning
effort.Therefore,it is said that without motivation learning is not possible at any
level.Motivation is at the hearth of learning. In short, when students are treated well, respected,
encouraged and the work has meaning high levels of motivation will automatically develop.