You will be participating in an online forum discussion on your personal motivations for taking the CERTEFL course.
Discussion Points
The purpose of this forum is to examine the motivations we have for taking this course. Understanding our motivations can not only help us succeed but can also make the learning experience more rewarding.
Requirements
- List three reasons why you are taking this course.
- Identify whether each reason is driven by intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, or a mix of both.
- Explain how each reason might impact your engagement and performance in the course.
Please write a 200 word circa response covering these points.
One reason I am taking this course is because I am interested in learning how languages are taught and how teaching can be made more effective for different learners. I also believe that learning a language is important because it helps people understand new cultures and communicate with others in a deeper way. This is mainly intrinsic motivation, since it comes from personal interest and curiosity. It will likely increase my engagement because I will be more willing to reflect on ideas like contextual teaching and learner differences.
A second reason is that I believe teaching is one of the most important jobs in the world. Without teachers, people would not gain the knowledge or skills they need to function in society. This is a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, because I genuinely value education, but I also see teaching as a possible future career path. This motivation will likely make me take the course seriously and participate actively, because I see its real-world importance.
A third reason is that I want to improve my future job opportunities and build a stable career. This is mostly extrinsic motivation, since it is linked to employment and long-term goals. This will likely push me to stay organised, complete assignments on time, and perform well even when the work becomes challenging.
Overall, these motivations—interest in language and culture, respect for teaching, and career goals—help me stay focused and committed to the course.
@certefl-admin Oriana Platania
Embarking on the CERTEFL certification journey is a pivotal step in my professional and personal development. Here are three core reasons driving my decision:
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Mastering Inclusive Pedagogical Frameworks:
- Motivation Type: Intrinsic motivation. - Impact on Engagement: Driven by a deep personal passion for equitable education, this goal fuels my active engagement with theories like Vygotsky’s ZPD and constructivism. It ensures I critically analyze every module to design truly accessible, non-hierarchical learning environments.
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Achieving Academic Excellence (Distinction Standard):
-Motivation Type: A mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.- - Impact on Performance: My ambition to graduate with a "Distinction" grade pushes me to produce rigorous, high-level coursework, maintain strict academic standards (such as APA 7th referencing), and meticulously refine my reflective writing and practical task designs.
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Enhancing Real-World Teaching Competence:
-Motivation Type: Extrinsic motivation (career advancement and professional readiness). - Impact on Engagement: This practical drive ensures I treat every task—from scenario analysis to contextual lesson planning—as a real-world simulation, bridging pedagogical theory with authentic classroom practices to prepare for diverse teaching settings.
My Motivations for Taking the CERTEFL Course
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To become a more confident EFL teacher – This reason is primarily intrinsic. I enjoy teaching and want to improve my methods to better support my students.To gain an internationally recognised certification for career advancement – This is mostly extrinsic motivation, as the certification opens doors for teaching positions abroad or with reputable institutions. Knowing that this qualification can directly impact my professional opportunities encourages me to stay committed and meet deadlines, even during busy periods.
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To connect with a global community of EFL professionals – This is a mix of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. I value the chance to learn from others’ experiences and perspectives, which enriches my own practice, but I’m also aware that networking can lead to future collaborations or opportunities. This dual motivation helps me stay active in discussions and collaborative tasks.
Overall, these motivations combine to keep me focused, resilient, and enthusiastic about the learning journey ahead.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and insightful experience. Your example highlights one of the most important aspects of effective teaching—responsiveness to learners’ diverse needs. I particularly appreciated how you acknowledged the initial challenge of using a one-size-fits-all approach and then took deliberate steps to modify your strategy. Differentiated instruction, when applied thoughtfully as you’ve done, can truly transform classroom dynamics.
Your use of grouping by skill level, coupled with targeted tasks, is a great way to ensure all students are both supported and challenged appropriately. I found the integration of peer teaching especially powerful—not only does it reinforce learning for both partners, but as you observed, it also builds empathy and fosters a sense of shared responsibility in the learning process.
It’s encouraging to hear that your adaptive approach led to increased participation and confidence among all learners. Your reflection also offers a valuable reminder that teaching is not about rigidly delivering content, but about continuously assessing and responding to student needs.
For new teachers, your experience serves as an excellent example of how flexibility, creativity, and strategic planning can lead to meaningful growth—for both students and the teacher. Thanks again for sharing this—it’s truly inspiring.
My three reasons for taking the CERTEFL course are:
1. To improve my teaching (intrinsic): I genuinely love teaching English for the Ħal Far organization; it’s incredibly fun and motivating to know that you are teaching something useful. Furthermore, I’m fortunate that my students are very engaged (likely because they have their own concrete intrinsic and extrinsic motivations). However, I’ve never had any formal training in teaching anything. Therefore, I’m excited for any opportunity to do better for my students, and that desire keeps me motivated throughout this course.
2. I enjoy learning new skills (intrinsic): I’ve always enjoyed learning new skills, even if I only dabble and don’t end up using them regularly. I was terrible in my pottery classes, but now when I see a handmade mug or bowl, I appreciate it so much more! Have you ever taken a class to make aged cheese? I highly recommend it. I’ve never done it again, but every time I taste a fancy cheese, I imagine the work that went into it. Similarly, with this CERTEFL course, it's interesting to learn the tools to successfully teach English as a foreign language. After completing this CERTEFL course, I know I’ll use my new skills in my volunteer position. And as someone studying Spanish, I’ll also better appreciate the craft underlying the classes I attend.
3. To update my professional qualifications (extrinsic): With the CERTEFL certification, I can demonstrate, via LinkedIn or other networking platforms, that I’m actively pursuing personal and professional development. This makes me more professionally relevant and appealing. Honestly, this is the least important motivator for me, but this motivation is present.
Understanding these motivations, especially my desire to improve for my current students, helps me stay focused and committed to completing the course.
I decided to take the CERTEFL course as a natural step in my professional path. I am a pedagogue by profession, and my main focus is school and academic work, so continuing my education feels important and useful.
One reason is my school career development. I want to grow professionally and have more opportunities in the academic and school system. This reason is a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. On one hand, qualifications are important for career progress, and on the other hand, I personally like the feeling of moving forward. This helps me stay motivated and take the course seriously.
Another reason is self-improvement and academic work. I enjoy learning new things and developing my professional knowledge. This is mostly intrinsic motivation, because it comes from my own interest. Because of this, I am more engaged and willing to put effort into understanding the course content.
Finally, I want to be able to support my colleagues, both directly in classroom practice and indirectly through advice and guidance. This motivation is both intrinsic and extrinsic. I feel satisfied when I can help others, and it also strengthens my professional role. Overall, these reasons make the course meaningful and motivating for me.
