Interview Sample: 8th grade teacher (I = Interviewer, T = Teacher)
I: Firstly, I would like to have your opinions about promoting pupils’ positive attitudes
towards mathematics learning. Do you think that promoting pupils’ enjoyment in learning
mathematics is important in mathematics classes? Could you explain your response?
T: Yes, I think so. It is very important for me to make pupils enjoy learning mathematics.
However, not all of the children are interested in the same topic or the same materials.
So, I don’t think that I can make all of the children in my class enjoy learning
mathematics all the time.
I: Can you find the pupils who enjoy and those who do not enjoy mathematics classes?
T: I can notice the pupils who feel bored in class. When pupils feel bored with lessons,
they do not reply to my questions and lose their concentration on the tasks. On the other
hand, I can see in the pupils’ eyes when the lesson is enjoyable. They can concentrate
on tasks when they enjoy doing them.
I: Do you think it is important to keep pupils’ motivation to learn mathematics high?
T: Yes, I think so. Many pupils seem to be motivated to learn in the introductory stage.
However, some pupils cannot keep up with the class and lose their motivation to learn.
Other pupils who can keep up with the class feel able to try hard to learn the topic. I can
observe the difference; first of all, their facial expressions and concentration on task
differ between motivated and unmotivated pupils. I walk between the desks in order to
provide pupils with individual support while they are working individually. Pupils who are
unmotivated are not willing to ask questions even if they don’t know the procedure.
When they have lost their motivation to learn, their expectation of mastering the content
gets weaker.
I: Do you think it is important to ensure that pupils feel secure in mathematics learning?