On English Reading Teaching in Junior High School Based on ARCS Learning Motivation Model

Abstract

In the cultivation of the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in language learning, reading is a more comprehensive reflection of the language application process. However, there are still many problems in the current stage of English reading teaching, which affects the effectiveness of English reading teaching and the improvement of students’ reading ability. Strong reading motivation is a key factor in promoting students to actively learn reading. Professor Keller, a renowned American psychologist, proposed the “ARCS Learning Motivation Model” in 1983, which starts with four elements: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction, and designs corresponding motivational strategies based on the characteristics of students’ learning motivation and teaching content. This study aims to stimulate students’ reading motivation as a breakthrough point, apply the ARCS learning motivation model to English reading teaching in junior high school, and explore whether English reading teaching based on this model can improve students’ reading motivation and thus improve their reading ability and grades. This research selected two classes in the first grade of a middle school as experimental subjects. The experimental class adopted a reading teaching method based on the ARCS learning motivation model, while the control class adopted traditional reading teaching methods. Through a one-month teaching experiment, the researchers collected and analyzed data from students, including questionnaires, tests, and interviews. Based on the analysis of the research results, this research confirms the effectiveness of middle school English reading teaching based on the ARCS learning motivation model in enhancing students’ reading motivation, improving reading ability, and improving reading performance. This provides useful insights for English reading teaching in junior high school and also serves as a reference for future research in related fields.