{"id":7402,"date":"2016-01-13T12:33:36","date_gmt":"2016-01-13T12:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eltchat.org\/wordpress\/?p=7402"},"modified":"2016-01-13T12:33:36","modified_gmt":"2016-01-13T12:33:36","slug":"what-motivates-teachers-an-eltchat-summary-21st-october-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/2016\/01\/13\/what-motivates-teachers-an-eltchat-summary-21st-october-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"What motivates teachers? – An #ELTchat summary (21st October, 2015)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This summary was kindly contributed\u00a0by @MattEllman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What motivates teachers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

A wide-ranging topic, but this ELTchat turned out to be quite fruitful! The answer? collaboration, whether it\u2019s online, in school, or with teachers from the wider education sector.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Initial responses included \u201cThe wish to do a better job\u201d (@SueAnnan), \u201cA growth mindset and a love of learning\u201d (@jascjasc), \u201cconstant challenges\u201d (@GlenysHanson, @ShaunWilden) and \u201cthe language learning process\u201d (@MattEllman). We then moved on to discuss whether these motivations were the difference between teachers who work while backpacking and those who stay in the profession and make a career of it, but @ShaunWilden made the point that many of those who start out backpacking end up becoming career teachers. One of those turned out to be @Marisa_C!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
SueAnnan<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:13:31<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nCould t be the difference between career teachers and the backpacker brigade? #Eltchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shaunwilden<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:14:48<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@SueAnnan though many of the later turn into the former #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
angelos_bollas<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:18:13<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@SueAnnan They start T as a hobby\/excuse for travel but then they end up liking it, no? #ELTchat @Shaunwilden<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:22:05<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@GlenysHanson @SueAnnan some of us ‘fell into teaching’ – was to be that halfway house job yea? and here we are #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Continuing professional development<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

The importance of always learning was a recurring theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
SueAnnan<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:05:19<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI think motivated teachers continue to learn for themselves #eltchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
theteacherjames<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:18:43<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@MattEllman Agreed. I never feel like I\u2019ve mastered it, there are always things I could do better. #Eltchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SueAnnan<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:26:31<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI love the constant discoveries from both my students and my peers #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WordPerfectEng<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:34:28<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nMotivated teachers are looking for new ways and materials to make learning more effective and relevant for students. Its a process. #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

And in particular, learning from teachers outside ELT:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:30:46<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI was surprised at how much I could get from watching non ELT Ts workshops #eltchat e..g. from science maths Ts<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MattEllman<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:31:38<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Marisa_C Absolutely – sometimes it’s the feeling that we’re in a TEFL bubble that is demotivating, I think… #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shaunwilden<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:32:01<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Marisa_C And what sort of stuff do you take away from them? #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:29:29<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nYes to going beyond our comfort zone – last week went to a general ed conference &amp; learnt so much! ELT needs these links #eltchat #pracped15<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ambartosik<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:32:22<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Marisa_C This is v true. I also find K-12 educators motivating – what they do with children in classrooms is amazing #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:33:13<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nHave always thought so -ELT has foolishly cut off the umbilical cord connecting it w\/ gen education studies #ELTchat\u00a0<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/t.co\/B5QWbuEiTL<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:36:16<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Shaunwilden hmm – first of all their use of tech is streets ahead of any ELT outfit i have seen #ELTchat @ambartosik agrees\u00a0 i think<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MattEllman<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:36:30<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Marisa_C Yes – I’m sure the lack of new research\/methodology we’re missing out on is another factor in demotivated teachers #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:38:28<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Shaunwilden then they are more focused on principles – the big picture – than the nitty gritty of this or that activ or tool #eltchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

So not surprisingly, the absence of CPD was mentioned as a demotivating factor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
SueAnnan<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:31:47<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI have colleagues who switch off the minute they finish teaching. How can we help motivate them? #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
marcuspopus<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:34:21<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n.@SueAnnan You can lead a horse to water… perhaps they’re happy standing still? #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SueAnnan<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:35:23<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@marcuspopus I suspect they must be, but they aren’t growing #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GlenysHanson<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:36:31<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@marcuspopus @SueAnnan Lol! If you’re standing still, it’s like being dead, isn’t it? #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GlenysHanson<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:38:22<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nIf teachers are not interested in learning, can they be effective teachers? #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
racheldaw18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:42:35<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nHere it’s also hard to be motivated for some as we are poorly paid freelancers, so teachers need to LIKE teaching\u00a0 #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MattEllman<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:46:40<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@racheldaw18 This is definitely a problem with the industry as a whole – it’s hard to be motivated if you can’t pay the bills! #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
racheldaw18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:47:07<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nYeah and of course also the unpaid planning time – that’s often why some teachers ‘teach then go home’\u00a0 #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:47:31<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nMost Ts I know in countries where salaries low have to work non-stop hours to make ends meet #ELTchat\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/t.co\/BrdtntHwBB<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

EdTech and Twitter<\/strong><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

EdTech, including Twitter, came up as a motivating factor for some teachers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
ambartosik<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:21:33<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI find edtech to be v motivating. Excites me to see if we can do things differently\/better in the classroom #eltchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:24:05<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nAgree – edtech revitalised my training\/teaching esp connecting with colleagues like here and building a PLN #eltchat\u00a0<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/t.co\/8L9m7IlLFL<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ambartosik<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:26:03<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@Marisa_C I was getting disillusioned before incorporating tech and before joining Twitter. Different, now #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:26:04<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI find the act of curating for sharing is a great motivator as well as great CPD #ELTchat\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/t.co\/2SySV61S96<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
racheldaw18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:27:37<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI agree with @Marisa_C – constant feedback w\/ global ‘colleagues’ on ELT topics is v. motivating that you’re doing the right thing! #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

For others, the collaborative side of Twitter was a motivating factor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n
jascjasc<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:18:48<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n#eltchat Twitter collaboration is a great motivator – sharing with like minded people<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GlenysHanson<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:24:59<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI retired 5 years ago &amp; I’m here… I find helping people learn intrinsically motivating. #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:57:30<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nA great global staffroom for those who can’t have it around them just happening now \ud83d\ude42 #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Being observed<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Observations were mentioned as a way of keeping things fresh:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
racheldaw18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:25:31<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nI recommend being observed by CELTA trainees – this happened to me today for 1st time (only 6 months teaching) &amp; was v. motivating! #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MattEllman<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:26:55<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@racheldaw18 Nothing like an observation to keep you on your toes! \ud83d\ude42 #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
racheldaw18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:27:56<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nHaha @MattEllman that’s very true! Only found out yesterday, so had to sharpen up my game! They asked such good Qs though \ud83d\ude42 #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MattEllman<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:29:21<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@racheldaw18 If you can chat with them about the lesson afterwards, it’s brilliant. New teacher enthusiasm is a great motivator! #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
marcuspopus<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:31:15<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n&amp; knowing that you’ll NEVER have all the answers, only more questions! Endless discovery #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GlenysHanson<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:33:16<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nMy favourite students were other teachers – very, very challenging! #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colleagues<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

And finally, the importance of a supportive work environment wasn\u2019t forgotten:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:54:24<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nWe should mention the positive effect of a creative and supportive school climate #eltchat this motivates many Ts more than pay<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:55:11<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nGreat school leadership is a major factor in keeping Ts motivated #eltchat – unfortunately inspired leaders do not grow on trees<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
racheldaw18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:55:29<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nDefinitely – I work in a wonderfully nurturing school, full of other Ts with great ideas to motivate us \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:56:18<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n@racheldaw18 A great staff room yes!!! #eltchat – remember that inspiration as a novice teacher!<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Everyone was able to agree on one thing: chatting about motivation had been very motivating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n
melody_philip<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:57:40<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nthis chat is motivating me! #ELTchat<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marisa_C<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2015-10-21T11:58:29<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nSee? what I said! It’s also my weekly injection of motivation and energy! #ELTchat\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/t.co\/AeWeUc42tI<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This summary was kindly contributed\u00a0by @MattEllman.   What motivates teachers? A wide-ranging topic, but this ELTchat turned out to be quite fruitful! The answer? collaboration, whether it\u2019s online, in school, or with teachers from the wider education sector.   Initial responses included \u201cThe wish to do a better job\u201d (@SueAnnan), \u201cA growth mindset and a…
Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-summary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7402\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}