Second language learning motivation

By saying „language learning“ we may mean second language learning or native language aquisition. Second language learning is more relevant topic for me at the moment, so I‘ll write more about this kind of language learning.

First of all, one of most important things for all kind of learning is motivation. Without it, you are like a car without fuel, so without motivation, you wouldn‘t go far away. So, how to motivate yourself to learn language?

There is two main kinds of motivation: intrinsic (causes us to participate in activity for our own enjoyment, usualy because we like the process) and extrinsic (causes us to do smth. for money, a grade or some other concrete, tangible reward,usualy the most important is a result) motivation. Researches proved that intrisicaly motivating activities tend to lead to better learning. And in fact, you may quite easily motivate yourself intrisicaly. One way you can do it, is to make yourself believe that learning is interesting and joyfull for you, using self-suggestion. Other way is to actualy make learning interesting and joyfull. Malone‘s & Lepper‘s researches suggests that to make activities intrinsically motivating we may equate them with fun or enjoyable activities or activities that we would perform on our own volition. If you haven‘t succeded, there is left extrinsic motivation. This kind of motivation is based on rewards, so obvously, if language learning, or learning at all, is a hard work for you, there could be a good idea to motivate yourself by promising a reward for a good job. But if you like learning languages, wery well, then you don‘t need any reinforcement, moreover, you mustn‘t give yourself any tips for language learning, because by reinforcing likeable activity we may decrease intrinsic motivation.

To increase all kinds of motivation Keller suggested, there should be fulfiled four conditions: Interest (in the topic and activity), Relevance (to the students lives), Expectancy (expectations of success and feelings of being in control) and Satisfaction (in the outcome). Expectancy itself is treated as a condition, so you must believe in yourself. And Relevance, Interest, and Satisfaction are all related to the value placed on the task, so you can introduce them by makeing learning more meaningfull to you.

And when you are full of resolution to learn some new or alredy touched language, visit these sites: http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/index.html ; http://www.visuallinklanguages.com/index.php , where you‘ll find theoretical advices how to learn any language effectively ,vocaburarys, self-check tasks and programs which will made your learning more interesting and productive.

And remember – if you realy want to, you can deal with any task!