CONFIDENCE MASTERY AS THE FUNDAMENTAL TASK IN LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Authors

  • Daniela Koteková Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2013.060203

Keywords:

The role of confidence, ethical teaching, motivational factor, self-esteem and belief, academic success, worthiness, positive attitude

Abstract

The aim of language learning is not only to achieve an academic success carried out by a fluent speaking; mastering the grammar and vocabulary but it should also focus on the psychological comfort and the intrinsic readiness of the students to participate in their education - to receive and perform. The learners’ self-esteem plays the fundamental role in any language classroom but gaining it is the task on its own and can be quite a challenge for the teachers. How students feel is closely related to their ability to learn. Teachers’ task is thus not only to provide knowledge and information but first of all they should immerse themselves into the student’s mind and discover the best way to awake learner’s will to communicate. This paper focuses on two kinds of aspects participating on the emotional state of the learner, academic and psychological. The students of two different levels of English have answered the questionnaire, assessing their attitude, anxiety and motivation towards learning English. Each opinion has been evaluated and put into relationship with the ability to relax, understand, learn and enjoy at the same time. Their analyses have become the base of several teaching techniques that would build and encourage the students’ confidence as the main condition to start any cognitive process. If confidence is the cause or the outcome of mastering a foreign language was the question asked and answered in this work. Confidence mastery has thus played the fundamental role in the present survey.

References

Arnold, J. (2007)  ‘Self-Concept and the Affective Domain in Language Learning’, (on line) Available:  http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/9781847182159-sample.pdf

Black, P., Wiliam, D. (1998) ‘Inside the Black Box’ (on line), Available:  http://weaeducation.typepad.co.uk/files/blackbox-1.pdf

Bono, E. (1970) ‘Lateral Thinking’, (on line) Available: http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/20621977/303169082/name/Edward%252BDe%252BBono%252B-%252BLateral%252BThinking.pdf

Casselmann, C. (1967) “Wesensformen des Lehrers. Versuch einer Typenlehre”, cited in Brozova H. et al (2011) ‘Students’ expectance of Teacher’s Managerial Competencies’, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference (ERIE 2011), Prague, pp. 36-45.

Deci, E.L., Ryan, R.M. (1985) ‘Intrinsic Motivation and self-determination in human behaviour’, (on line), Available:  http://books.google.cz/books?hl=sk&lr=&id=p96Wmn-ER4QC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=self-determination,+deci+,+ryan&ots=3cHPq8v762&sig=Cxe--7TOdOx1F1dO5XoucXfrC0I&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=self-determination%2C%20deci%20%2C%20ryan&f=false

Fontecha, F.A. (2007) ‘Self-esteem and Foreign Language Learning’, Cambridge: Cambridge Schollars Publishing

Gardner, R.C., Maclntyre, P.D. (1993) ‘A Student’s Contributions to second-language learning. Part II: Affective variables’, pp. 177-184, (on line), Available: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=2583896

Horwitz, K.E. (2007) 'Foreword on ‘Self-Esteem and Foreign Language Learning’, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, (on line) Available: http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/9781847182159-sample.pdf

Leon, J. (1971) ‘Psychological and Physiological Aspects of Foreign Language Learning’, pp. 2 (on line), Available: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/499s99/cachola/chpt2/chptr2.html

Kotekova, D. (2012) ‘Building Confidence in Students learning a Foreign Language’, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference (ERIE 2012), Prague, pp. 251-261.

Kotekova, D. (2010) ‘Thinking Skill – The Main Learning Tool’, Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-13. (on line), Available: http://www.eriesjournal.com/index.php?idScript=11&idArticle=105

Mruk, J.C. (2008) The Psychology of Self-Esteem: A potential Common Ground for Humanistic Positive Psychology and Positivistic Positive Psychology, (on line) Available: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08873260802111176

Odera, P. (2009) ‘Changing Role of Teachers in Contemporary Educational institutions’, Indian journal Social Science Researches, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 29-38.

Ripley, K., Simpson, E. (2007) “First steps to emotional literacy” cited in Švarcová, E. (2011) ‘Implementation of Ethical Education in Schools’, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference (ERIE 2011), Prague, pp. 296-301.

Richard, J.C., Rodgers, T.S. (1987) ‘The nature of approaches and methods in language teaching.’ (on line), Available: http://mail.udgvirtual.udg.mx/biblioteca/bitstream/123456789/1433/1/

Rubio, F. (2007) ‘Self-esteem and Foreign Language Learning’, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, (on line) Available: http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/9781847182159-sample.pdf

Stiggins, J.R. (1999) ‘Assessment, Student Confidence, and School Success’, (on line), Available: http://dinateam.dina.iowapages.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/IMPLAssessmentStudentConfidence0801109.pdf

Sertl, M. (1998), ‘Applied Social Sciences in Teacher Education’, Brno:ISBN 80-85931-59-1; Tempus S-JEP (vydalo Paido), pp. 139-141.

Szynalski, T.P. (2011) ‘The role of mistakes in language learning’, (on line), Available: http://www.antimoon.com/how/mistakes-in-learning.htm

Švarcová, E. (2011) ‘Implementation of Ethical Education in Schools’, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference (ERIE 2011), Prague, pp. 296-301.

Trevarthen, C., Hubley, P. (1978) ‘Secondary inter-subjectivity: confidence, confiding and acts of meaning in the first year’, (on line), Available: http://www.mendeley.com/research/secondary-intersubjectivity-confidence-confiding-acts-meaning-first-year/ , pp. 183-229.

Vostra, H., Jindrova, A., Domeova L. (2011) ‘The Attitude of Adult Students towards Particular Subjects, Their Motivation and Results’, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference (ERIE 2011), Prague, pp. 342-350.

Yashima, T. (2004) ‘The Influence of Attitudes And Affect on Willingness to Communicate and Second Language Communication’, (on line), Available: http://www.jimelwood.net/students/adv_english/yashima_et_al_(2004).pdf

Additional Files

Published

2013-06-30

How to Cite

Koteková, D. (2013) ’CONFIDENCE MASTERY AS THE FUNDAMENTAL TASK IN LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE’, Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 84–104. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2013.060203

Issue

Section

Research Paper