%0 Journal Article
%T Effectiveness of a Motor Intervention Program on Motivation and Learning of English Vocabulary in Preschoolers: A Pilot Study
%J Behavioral Sciences | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/bs9080084
%X (1) Background: Linking physical activity to the teaching of curricular contents provides numerous motivational and emotional benefits which improve academic performance and lead to the improvement and creation of healthy habits from an early age. (2) Method: The objective of the study is to analyze the effectiveness of a 5-week intervention program based on the use of a combined methodology of physical activity and gestures on motivation and vocabulary learning in English. The sample of children was aged from 4 to 7 years and was recruited from three childrenĄ¯s centers in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. A quasi-experimentalstudy was carried out using a pretest¨Cposttest design in a sample (n = 88). (3) Results: Statistically significant results were obtained in the learning of words through the combined methodology of gestures and motor activity, compared to the traditional methodology used in the control group. (4) Conclusions: The main conclusions are that motor and expressive activities at an early age can be an effective motivational resource that promotes an increase in childrenĄ¯s physical activity time in the classroom. Further, it improves academic performance, producing a more effective learning of the vocabulary of a second language. View Full-Tex
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/9/8/84