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Student is the key point in the teaching process. Even the best teacher, book or teaching strategy cannot educate a student who is detached from the outside world with no motivation. Internal and external motivation is crucial for the student. There are many methods to motivate the student. One of them is to make the students feel important. Even though the teacher is the responsible person in the classroom, students feel that they have a right to speak in the classroom management. Including the student in deciding the rules of the classroom and the form of the exams or determining the method of a research on a certain subject motivates the students and makes them feel in control. Students should not be afraid to make mistakes. Teachers must motivate them rather than scolding. They must encourage the students. Understanding of the each subject might be different. In the same manner, the understanding level of the students might be different as well. For this reason, lecturing must be in accordance with the student. Understanding the subjects with visuals, audio or practical way differs from student to student. The teachers can only change the lecturing if they know the understanding ways of the students. Thus, it leads to better learning and an increase in the motivation of the student. Students do not like to be compared. But, sometimes competition among the students increases their motivation. A group competition in which the friendship bonds are encouraged brings a positive atmosphere to the environment. Rewarding is another thing that motivates students or people in general. The reward can be a “well-done”, a chocolate or a ticket to the movies. These motivate the students to aim to study harder. But, teachers must be careful while giving rewards. The reward must be suitable to the student and it must be given in intervals. In other ways, giving a ribbon to a high school student will not motivate them. Rewarding students after each successful behavior will not be as effective. Thus, the qualification and frequency of rewards are important as well. The control mechanism in the classroom is the teacher. However, the teachers must stay in the background. The responsibilities that the students take motivate them. Many students think of this responsibility as a privilege, they feel valuable. Therefore, this increases the motivation of the students. People believe in tangible things easier. Students are motivated by knowing what they can be in the future. They want to learn about working conditions and “what they can be, how much they can earn or what kind of life they can lead”. They want to see what can happen to them in life if otherwise. When they see both of these livings, they may be motivated. Some students always want to do their best. When they fail to do so, they get concerned and their motivation decreases. In these circumstances, the teachers must step in and tell their students that it is not the end of the world and they support them in their failure. Teachers always support their students to be better. But, the aims set for them must be reachable. Low aims will not improve them; however, impossible aims will not be credible for them. Thus, the reachable aims must be set. The activities in the classroom must be fun and attractive. If the subject is supported with different activities, students will have an easier time to learn. Thus, it increases their self-confidence and motivation. The source of the motivation can be internal as well as external. Internal motivation even might be better than the external one. Because people try to constantly get motivated for something in external motivation. But, in internal motivation, the students act because they want to. They are not motivated with a chocolate, ticket or a “well-done” but for themselves. In conclusion, there are many ways to motivate the students. The teacher must consider the situation of the students in this process. Excessive motivation might cloud the reality, while lacking motivation might be insufficient in making students act. True, conscious and timely repetitions keep the motivation level of the students high. This motivation can be continuous under the control of the teacher.
