Abstract
The purpose of the present experiment was to assess the effects of teaching a rule with exceptions on arousing interest in learners. The experimental group was given reading material describing the existence of a rule between the life cycle of plants and the seasons. In the material, a number of plants were listed in accordance with the rule. Following, the existence of plants being exceptional samples to the rule, and the reasons for their exceptionality were given. One of the control groups was given reading material in which the rule above-mentioned was not pointed out at all ; only two different types of plants living differently were placed side by side Ss were asked how interesting the article was, and also were requested to comment on its interesting feature. The result was that the experimental group was more deeply interested in the given article than the control group. They particularly commented as interesting the exceptional existence of plants and the reasons for it. The obtained results were discussed from the viewpoint of conceptual conflict and its reduction.
