Motivation to study French was examined among first-year students using an extrinsic/intrinsic dichotomy approach to classify motivations. Students were found to be motivated by a wide variety of reasons, with personal or intrinsic reasons dominating. (Contains five references.) (Author/LB)

Develops thesis that study skills are best presented from a metacognitive perspective. As students develop self-regulatory skills along with procedural skills they are best able to make effective use of study skills techniques. Presents a model of metalearning that brings together a number of variables that may influence learning outcomes.…

Several ways to extend the notion of second-language (L2) learning motivation are discussed. The motivational materials and techniques considered are well known in the fields of general, industrial, educational, and cognitive developmental psychology but have not been applied to the L2 field. (Contains 98 references.) (LB)

Studies variables affecting language achievement at school by examining attitudes of 273 non-language students toward language learning in terms of enjoyment, ease of vocabulary and grammar learning, and satisfaction with teachers. Although less than half the students enjoyed their school experience, many expressed a desire to learn a foreign…

A survey of student use of audio recordings of lectures at universities revealed that students valued the opportunity to listen to the lectures they missed; fewer students sought academic staff to ask questions; students made copies of the recordings away from the library, which reduced pressure on library facilities; and few students deliberately…

This article questions the stereotyped picture of the Asian university student as relying heavily on rote learning. A survey comparing Hong Kong students (n=2,143) with Australian norms found similar study processes in the two groups, suggesting that tendencies toward reproductive study approaches may be a function of teaching practices rather…

Review of experimental evidence concerning the effectiveness of problem-based learning suggests that the approach may not improve content-free problem solving; may initially reduce learning levels but fosters long-term retention; may enhance transfer of concepts and integration of concepts into clinical problems; enhances intrinsic interest of…

Presents eight theses about contemporary Danish adult education: education is a consumer good; it serves triple social functions; instrumentalism dominates inner motivation; education serves nonessential and conventional needs; adults learn more from experience than from formal education; intellectual is separated from emotional; sectoral adult…

Observes that immortality remains an important animating ideal for teaching and learning, despite being long neglected as theological or egoistic. Makes the case that the role of immortality in pedagogy has a long history in Western thought. Argues that individuals should recognize and address ways that longing for immortality shapes educators'…

Examined natural behavior contingencies as mechanisms by which peers influence children's school motivation. Found that the more students were motivated, the more likely they were to receive approval from peer-group members following active, on-task behaviors. The less students were motivated, the more they received disapproval from nonmembers…

Research and theory suggest that college students' motivation to learn is related to their epistemological beliefs. Faculty can promote student motivation by designing learning activities that facilitate student development of more sophisticated epistemological beliefs. Faculty developers can assist in this by giving special attention to the…

Using a questionnaire, this study examined Jordanian undergraduate students attitudes toward learning the Hebrew language. Results show that students express a neutral, guarded attitude toward Jewish language and culture. In general, the results indicate the importance of learning Hebrew and suggest that learning is intrinsically motivated.…

Describes a study that attempts to assess the construct of self-regulated learning. Concludes that despite mediation by contextual, developmental, social and personal factors in learning, self-regulated learning is an important factor in determining academic success at the postsecondary level. Contains nine data tables and 27 references. (JDI)

Examines the current literature on student motivation in the classroom, highlighting working definitions, patterns of activity, and categories of motivation. Indicates that no measure or test of motivation prescribes specific actions by instructors, and suggests that teachers should trust their personal judgment regarding classroom motivational…

This study of 36 adults with visual impairments found that self-esteem was related to 3 self-report measures of skills: dependence on others, difficulty with daily living skills, and motivation to learn. Relationships were found between educational level and self-esteem, educational level and the three measures of skills, and employment status and…