研究生英语阅读教程中高级本UNIT10翻译

Unit 10 Student Motivation To Learn.

学生学习动机

Motivation is an internal state or condition (sometimes described as a need, desire, or want ) that serves to activate or energize behavior and give it direction . Student motivation has to do with students’ des ire to participate in the learning process. What factors influence the development of students’ motivation? How can motivation to learn be fostered? The article gives the explanations.

动机是一种激励或者刺激人们行为并指引行为方向的内部状态或状况（有时也是一种需要，渴望，或者意愿）。学生的学习动机必须和他们参与学习过程的意愿联系在一起。哪些因素会影响学生学习动机的养成呢？怎样才能培养学习动机呢？这篇文章给出了详细的说明。

Infants and young children appear to be propelled by curiosity, driven by an intense need to explore, interact with, and make sense of their environment. As one author puts it, "Rarely does one hear parents complain that their pre-schooler is 'unmotivated' " (James Raffini 1993).

不管是婴儿还是小孩，他们看起来都会受好奇心的推动，受探索自然，融入并探索自然的强烈需要的驱使。象一个作家所提的，“没有谁听家长说他们的小孩在学前是不积极的。

Unfortunately, as children grow, their passion for learning frequently seems to shrink. Learning often becomes associated with drudgery instead of delight. A large number of students--more than one in four--leave school before graduating. Many more are physically present in the classroom but largely mentally absent; they fail to invest themselves fully in the experience of learning.

不幸的是，随着孩子的成长，他们学习的热情降低了。学习经常变成了一件苦差事而并非乐事。有超过1/4的大量学生辍学。而更多的是身在曹营，心在汉；他们根本不能全身心地投入学习。

Awareness of how students' attitudes and beliefs about learning develop and what facilitates learning for its own sake can assist educators in reducing student apathy.

了解学生关于学习发展的态度和信念，及凭自学兴趣的情况，这将帮助教育工作者降低学生学习的冷漠态度。

What is student motivation?

什么是学生的动机？

Student motivation naturally has to do with st udents' desire to participate in the learning process. But it also concerns the reasons or goals that und erlie their involvement or noninvolvement in academic activities. Although students may be equally motivated to perform a task, the sources of their motivation may differ.

学生学习的动机通常与学生在学习的过程中参与学习意愿有关。但也与他们参与或不参与学习活动的原因和目标有关。即使学生们可能受驱使去干某事，但是他们学习的动机是不同的。

A student who is INTRINSICALLY motivated undertakes an activity "for its own sake, for the enjoyment it provides, the learning it permits, or the feelings of accomplishment it evokes" (Mark Lepper 1988). An EXTRINSICALLY motivated student performs "IN ORDER TO obtain some reward or avoid some punishment external to the activity itself," such as grades, stickers, or teacher approval (Lepper).

一个具有内在动机的学生，他从事活动是为了活动本身，为了活动过程中的乐趣，为了能从中学到什么，或是为了活动所引发的优越感。而处于一个处于外在动因的学生，“他往往是为了得到某种奖赏，或是避免一些外在惩罚。”诸如成绩、难题和老师的认可。

The term MOTIVATION TO LEARN has a slightly different meaning. It is defined by one author as "the meaningfulness, value, and benefits of academic tasks to the learner--regardless of whether or not they are intrinsically interesting" (Hermine Marshall 1987). Another notes that motivation to learn is characterized by long-term, quality involvement in learning and commitment to the process of learning (Carole Ames 1990).

学习动机这个词的意义稍有差别。有位作家做了这样的定义，学习动因就是学术活动对于学习者产生的意义、价值和利益，不管学生是否发自内心的兴趣。而另外的则认为，学习动机的特点是长期的，积极地投入学习和到付诸学习过程中去。

What factors influence the development of students’ motivation?

影响学生动机发展的因素有哪些？

According to Jere Brophy (1987), motivation to learn is a competence acquired "through general experience but stimulated most directly through modeling, communication of expectations, and direct instruction or socialization by significant others (especially parents and teachers)."

根据Jere的观点，学习动机是一种能力，主要是从实践中获得。但是，大多数是从直接受到表扬、愿望交流和直接说明或是被其他有影响的人激发出来的。

Children's home environment shapes the initial constellation of attitudes they develop toward learning. When parents nurture their children's natural curiosity about the world by welcoming their questions, encouraging exploration, and familiarizing them with resources that can enlarge their world, they are giving their children the message that learning is worthwhile and frequently fun and satisfying.