Describes how time spent immersed in Talmudic studies at yeshivahs in the United States and Israel had a profound effect on this professor's understanding of the delicate art of teaching, in particular promoting the love of learning for its own sake and fostering respect among students. (EV)

Provides an overview of the current themes and research directions in second language motivation research. Argues that the initial research inspiration and standard-setting empirical work on second language motivation originating from Canada has borne fruit by educating a new generation of international scholars who have created a colorful mixture…

Investigates the students who participate in science competitions (state science fair or the state Science Olympiad in Utah) and what they perceive as the rewards for participating. Finds students participate for different reasons and see them as very distinct. Suggests that promoting other science events and activities may be beneficial in…

Attempts to stimulate theoretical thinking and empirical research in the domain of second language vocabulary learning by introducing a construct of involvement with motivational and cognitive dimensions: Need, Search, and Evaluation. Reviews a number of constructs that are currently debated and investigated in the literature on cognitive and…

Survey responses from 298 adults over 50 indicated that they were interested in instrumental learning focused on maintaining personal resources and capacity in order to engage with local, national, and global concerns. A more accurate picture of motivation arises from asking what adults want to do that is personally meaningful, instead of what do…

Assessment should be focused on the cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, and affective aspects of lifelong learning. Both qualitative and quantitative methods such as learning and study strategies inventories, affective instruments, and learning logs should be used. (Contains 63 references.) (SK)

Learners' formal and informal beliefs may influence the way they approach learning. Do they learn to apply or learn to understand? The effort they make to learn depends on their perception of how the learning will reward them. Cross-cultural beliefs about knowledge and conceptions of learning must also be taken into account in developing…

A survey of Scottish older adults participating in three educational contexts (Universities of the Third Age, self-help classes, and formal adult education) as well as nonparticipants found that participants were motivated by the need for mental activity, social engagement, and second-chance learning. The process of learning and ownership of…

Assesses the validity and reliability of a scale of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for second language learning, and examines the relations between these types of motivation and the four orientations discussed by Clement and Kruidenier (1983). Results are discussed with reference to how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are relevant to…

Reports on a small-scale study that investigated the relationship between on-task behavior, usefulness of materials as perceived by learners, and enjoyableness of materials. Data were collected daily over one term in two South Korean English-as-a-Foreign-Language classrooms. (Author/JL)

Hardiness of academic self-concept was measured in 481 high school students; factor analyses were conducted. Validity and reliability of the Academic Hardiness Scale were supported, and a three-factor model emerged, depicting hardiness as a process of commitment, control, and challenge that served to buffer stressful situations. (Contains 60…

A survey of 82 adults in noncredit programs on the arts and lifelong learning and interviews with 25 identified their motivations and outcomes. They valued noncredit learning for the opportunity to try something new in a nonthreatening environment. These learning opportunities benefited their social involvement, health, and well-being. (SK)

The article addresses clarity and coherence of lesson goals as a scaffold for student learning. In 13 physics classes video recordings of the introductory lesson of two topics were rated with respect to clarity and coherence of the lesson structure. HLM analyses showed a positive effect of classes with high goal clarity and coherence on the…

As meta-analyses demonstrate feedback effects on performance, our study examined possible mediators. Based on our cognitive-motivational model [Vollmeyer, R., & Rheinberg, F. (1998). Motivationale Einflusse auf Erwerb und Anwendung von Wissen in einem computersimulierten System [Motivational influences on the acquisition and application of…

The goal of this article is to discuss one of Paul Pintrich's more enduring legacies: the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), an 81-item, self-report instrument consisting of 6 motivation subscales and 9 learning strategies scales. The MSLQ has proven to be a reliable and useful tool that can be adapted for a number of…