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Fostering Integrative Motivation among Introductory‐Level German Students through a Language Partners Program
Author(s) -
Shaver Annis N.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
die unterrichtspraxis/teaching german
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1756-1221
pISSN - 0042-062X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-1221.2012.00119.x
Subject(s) - german , point (geometry) , psychology , mathematics education , pedagogy , linguistics , philosophy , geometry , mathematics
Many students enroll in language classes with the instrumentally motivated goal of satisfying a requirement. This article argues that instructors can influence students’ motivation toward more integrative motivation by helping them make connections with the language community. The “Language Partner” program established for a small German program has proven to be successful in moving the motivation of beginning German students in the direction of integrative motivation. Regularly‐scheduled sessions with German speakers give students an opportunity to experience and manipulate the language in authentic contexts. The results of a survey are presented which point toward the success of the program and confirm the benefits for students.