BARRY BAI (THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG)

PROMOTING MOTIVATION AND SELF-REGULATION IN ENGLISH WRITING: RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND PRACTICES : ELT INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGY

This presentation looks to introduce activities to promote motivation and self-regulation for successful English writing. First, I will briefly draw on research evidence from my recent empirical studies on the intricate relationships between motivation and self-regulation in predicting English writing. Then, I will provide practical steps for English teachers to promote motivation and self-regulation in their writing instructions. Teachers and students can have a discussion on the positive impacts of self-talk and growth mindset on their English writing. English teachers should teach students to set writing goals for themselves. Setting goals is an important self-regulated writing strategy. With goals properly set, students understand better their writing process and how they can achieve success. Useful strategies for the process of writing, i.e., before writing, while writing and after writing should then be introduced to students, which include but are not limited to POW, TOWER, TREE, PEEL, ARMS, CUPS and 3-2-1 Self-Reflection. All these writing strategies have been proven useful for improving students’ English writing through empirical research. All the motivational statements and/activities and self-regulated writing strategies can be turned into a handy strategy book that students can keep for a long time across grade levels in primary and secondary schools.

Dr. Barry Bai is an associate professor at the Faculty of Education, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where he mainly teaches ELT-related courses. He has extensive teaching and teacher training experience in Singapore, Hong Kong and China. His research interests include teaching ESL/EFL, writing strategies, and teacher education.