DEVELOPING THE MOTIVATION OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS TO LEARN AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

If a student’s goal is academic achievement and he/she makes an effort to achieve it, he/she will become involved in classroom activities because they are a means for him/her to achieve that goal. Motivation, as an influence that brings about, directs and sustains an activity, is very important for learning. The aim of this paper is to point out the relationship between motivation to learn and academic achievement of deaf and hard of hearing students and to emphasise the importance of appropriate involvement of parents and teachers in the teaching process and the development of motivation in these students. Variables that correlate with academic achievement are presented. Views of the author are stated, which are based on research results and practice, according to which it appears that deaf and hard of hearing students usually have poorer academic achievement than their hearing peers, as well as a lower level of motivation to learn. It can be concluded that the development of interest and motivation to learn is not paid sufficient attention by both deaf and hard of hearing students themselves and their environment (parents and teachers). Where parents and teachers have high expectations of students and take into account all their personal characteristics and other factors, and where parents and teachers are appropriately involved in the teaching process, deaf and hard of hearing students show high levels of interest and motivation to learn and attain better academic achievement.