The lack of motivation had been a bane to all students for a long time, sapping away their energies everytime they sit down in a classroom or a study table. It's a shame because it affects students of high abilities or average abilities.
The causes of such low motivation can be many, and we should discuss them aloud, as many other articles have done. If you've had such experiences as a student before, you'd have known that the feeling is not enjoyable at all.
1. Condescending Teachers
"...You will never be able to make it in life with your attitude..."
"...When you guys return next year from graduation, remember to pay <student name> a visit too..."
"...You will fail your exams and go to ITE..."
You wouldn't believe it, but many students share with us about their teachers putting them down in class. Of course, lets give teachers the benefit of doubt, since this could be completely out of context as they could have taken an excerpt from what was meant to be get them to work hard instead. I will proceed to ask the students who share with me this "so how do you feel when you heard that from your teacher?" Many just say, "I'm not going to do his/her homework anymore" or "I hate maths".
2. Pushy Parents
Concerned parents usually have a positive influence on students. Some will monitor homework, constantly remind them of the benefits of getting good grades and that's great. On the other hand if parents a lot of stress on their children, demanding that they score A* all the time. This could have an adverse effect on the student. As one article puts it "...If you lose your cool over a broken cup or a bad grade, your children may start to believe that they need to be perfect all the time..." Where such parents might think of themselves as pushing their children to be the best, they might be pushing them off the cliff instead.
3. Bad friends
You might think when friends just want to play, student's are probably in trouble with their studies. I think this is not exactly true and engaging in play and other activities can actually help forge strong and healthy friendships - contributing to the much neglected emotional support that students need. The real problem arises when friends actively tries to steer the student away from his or her responsibilities. If it nearing the national exams and a friend tries to get a student out for a study group that's fine. If it was to head off early for a CCA meeting, or to a movie and dinner, it takes everyone away from what we're really trying to do.
4. Time management
When kids just want to be adults, they want to do things that they have ownership in, like sports or dance. They devote their after-school time for these activities and end up with no energy left to follow up on their academic work. I always remind our students to treat their studies as if it were work. Adults work 8 to 5, and that's their time dedicated to making a living. Of course, other factors like discipline and other ad-hoc school activities would crop up to disrupt planned activities. In the end, students themselves need to prioritise and balance their own responsibilities to be a great adult.
Disclaimer
Please note that I make no reference to specific people and it's just a pattern that I have observed in tutoring the students. It's all for information and no offense and I will continue to do my best for the students of Happy Tutors
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