Abstract:

The article describes and analyzes theoretical and empirical materials about the adults’ emotions in the process of education as well as teaching/learning in school. The aim of the article is to investigate the experienced basic emotions by adults when learning skills and knowledge in school and highlight the factors arousing emotions in learning skills and emotions in school. The article analyses the data obtained in empirical research on the emotions experienced by adults during education process in school. In questionnaires and semi-structured interviews adults reveal what gave them pleasure and positive emotions in lessons, as well as what made them experience negative emotions. According to the analysis of empirical data were highlighted the factors of learning skills and knowledge in school which caused positive emotions; however, the failure to comply with these factors caused negative factors in adults as pupils.

As a result of the research, it is possible to select the factors facilitating positive emotions while realise teaching process in school: curriculum which is easy for a pupil to understand and perceive, which is encouraging, in good arrangement, intensity and appropriate difficulty level; efficient techniques of work and visual aids are used in the acquisition of skills; also the pupils’ activities are practical and independent; diverse forms of work, methods, especially the method of play are used in the acquisition of skills which encourage a pupil’s active participation and mobilization of potential in order to achieve the desired objective; communication with peers and the teacher; evaluation of a pupil’s progress and achievements by the teacher, peers, also self-esteem. Consideration of these factors evoke positive emotions: joy, surprise, interest which in turn mobilize pupils’ mental and physical energy for the acquisition of skills and knowledge in learning process. Discussions and reflection on psychological and pedagogical factors were found to mitigate long-standing negative emotions and develop improved dispositions for learning to teach and to learn skills and knowledge qualitatively.

Keywords:

Adults, basic emotions, school.