Uploaded July 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The second experiment Ariely describes is one which feels much closer to the classroom. In this case subjects were given a page with lines full of random letters and there were asked to spot cases where letters appeared in pairs (‘ss’, ‘pp’ etc.). Once they had circled them all, they were to hand in the paper, get their money, and pick up another sheet if they wished to continue. There were 3 conditions: in the first one, the research assistant would get the sheet, look it up carefully, nod and then put it on the pile with the others; in the second, the assistant would just put it on the pile without looking at it; the third was diabolical – in it, the assistant immediately shredded the sheet without a single glance! Did this make a difference? (You bet it did! )
[NB: I do not own the copyright to this video clip. I have uploaded it here for educational purposes].
+psychology, +motivation, +etl, +esl, +tesol, +tefl, +intrinsic motivation, +purpose, +recognition, +Dan Ariely, +meaning,
The second experiment Ariely describes is one which feels much closer to the classroom. In this case subjects were given a page with lines full of random letters and there were asked to spot cases where letters appeared in pairs (‘ss’, ‘pp’ etc.). Once they had circled them all, they were to hand in the paper, get their money, and pick up another sheet if they wished to continue. There were 3 conditions: in the first one, the research assistant would get the sheet, look it up carefully, nod and then put it on the pile with the others; in the second, the assistant would just put it on the pile without looking at it; the third was diabolical – in it, the assistant immediately shredded the sheet without a single glance! Did this make a difference? (You bet it did! )
[NB: I do not own the copyright to this video clip. I have uploaded it here for educational purposes].
+psychology, +motivation, +etl, +esl, +tesol, +tefl, +intrinsic motivation, +purpose, +recognition, +Dan Ariely, +meaning,
![Comedy for ELT - Homo Devis 2 [The Race]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ux876msHnXg/mqdefault.jpg "Comedy for ELT - Homo Devis 2 [The Race]
Scientists have recently discovered a new human (sub-)species. It’s called ‘Homo Devis’. Most of us plebs refer to them as ‘the super posh’ and ‘the filthy rich’, though people have been known to use other names as well… These people live differently, they think differently, they speak differently.
A brilliant comment on class stratification by the very talented Catherine Tate. Taken from the BBC TV Series ‘The Catherine Tate Show’. Level: C1 – C2 Topics: Rich – Poor / Class / Discrimination / Values.
[NB: I do not own the copyright to this audio clip. I have uploaded it here for educational purposes].
SCRIPT
M: Now – remember what daddy told you about sports day?
S&D: That ‘The taking part is everything; to win with dignity and to lose with pride in the knowledge that you did your absolute best’. *
M: Remember, whatever happens here today, mummy and daddy are immensely proud of you.
S&D: Thank you mummy…
M: OK darlings, now… it’s nearly time… in perpetua vincere.
S&D: In perpetua vincere… *
A: In lane 1, Cloe Taylor Thomas; in lane 2, Thomas Taylor Thomas; * in lane 3, Imogen Fitzroy Ferguson; in lane 4, Fergus Fitzroy Ferguson; * in lane 5, Emilia Harvey Henry; and in lane 6, Henry Harvey Henry. *
R: On your marks; get – set - * go!
M: Nooooo!!! It’s the eggs!! They’re not organic!!! (the children scream and everybody rushes off to the cars…) ***")
