English Instructor Manual (PDF) - Metric Version - National ...

Learning requires motivation (willingness to learn)
Learning requires repetition (repeating an idea using multiple approaches)
Learning occurs through association (information tied to past experience)
Learning occurs through the senses (seeing, hearing, touch, taste, smell)
LAW OF RETENTION
Information, once inputted, will be retained proportionally to the following:
Intensity in which it is impressed
Immediacy in which it is applied
Frequency in which it is used
Value of the information to the individual
COMMUNICATION
Communication requires three (3) parts:
Sender
Message
Receiver
When one of these parts is not clearly defi ned, miscommunication can occur. For instance, a
presenter who talks on an “advanced” level will not effectively communicate with “beginner”
participants. In this case, the message may be clear, but the receiver cannot comprehend the
message. You must understand your participants’ abilities and needs to effectively communicate.
If you present in a manner they cannot understand, participants will lose interest and your course
will be ineffective. Keep your presentation simple, to the point, and focused to your audience.
Remember, the most effective instructor is not one who knows the most but one who
communicates the best. Your participants will tell you if your communication is effective through
certain feedback indicators, including:
Eye contact
Body language (posture)
Participation
Pay close attention to these indicators. Remember, communication is a two-way process. If
participants are sending you a message that your presentation is not clear, make adjustments.
MOTIVATION
Motivation is the most important psychological tool available to the instructor. Learning will
occur only when a participant wants to learn. While it is nice if a student is self-motivated, this
often is not the case. Many participants may not want to be in your class and may present
quite a challenge in the learning process. Therefore, motivation is one of the most important
responsibilities an instructor has in the learning process. In other words, if participants are not
learning or appear bored, your methods of motivating participants to learn should be the fi rst thing
you consider, not that the participants are bad students.
Most often, self-motivation occurs when linked to such areas as:
Job skills and marketability
Leisure time activities
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