The role of motivation in learning a language
In last month’s translation industry updates, we talked about overcoming our urge to procrastinate. This time we’ll be looking at the situation from the other side and thinking about ways we can create and maintain a good level of motivation when learning other languages.?
It’s common to think of motivation in “intrinsic” or “extrinsic” terms. Intrinsic motivation is when we enjoy doing an activity in and of itself, and see that enjoyment as being its own reward. Extrinsic motivation comes when we’re trying to achieve something for an external reason, whether that comes in the form of employability, access to education, social approval, or many other factors.?
When it comes to learning another language, we may be motivated by one or more of these factors. On the one hand, people who love languages tend to feel genuinely passionate about learning and improving – most of the time. On the other hand, in an increasingly interconnected world there are many scenarios in which we may grudgingly have to learn a language that we might not have necessarily decided to pursue had it not been for factors such as work or education.
Unlike in many other areas of study, there tends to be a strong emotional component to learning a language, and this can help as well as hinder our efforts to improve. Often, many people are drawn to a particular language because they’re passionate about either the language itself, or some aspect of the culture that speaks it. They might also have learned the language for love, or to be able to connect with extended family members.?
At the same time, our personal experiences with a language can cause us to withdraw from it as well as embracing it. It might be the case that you moved to another country for pragmatic reasons, such as seeking better employment opportunities or following a partner or family member, and in this case you might feel that you didn’t necessarily seek out that particular situation. You might live somewhere where you feel homesick – even if you otherwise love the country – or you might feel daunted by being surrounded by native speakers who are obviously confident in their language.?
Over and above that, you might also feel that your efforts to interact in a language are not being received well, or that you’re struggling to integrate in your new place. All of these factors can cause us to run away from a language, in a situation where it would serve us better, at least in a practical sense, to try to embrace it.?
So how can we stay motivated, regardless of whether this comes from the inside or not??
Tip number one: Try to learn study in a focused manner
If you’re studying a language for pragmatic reasons then you might find it extra difficult to find time to sit down with your textbooks (or study resources of choice). But even if you’re really enthusiastic about improving in a language that you feel passionate about, it can sometimes be difficult to actually find time to study. Try to find ways of ensuring that you stay on track with your learning. One way of doing this is by building this into your routine, so that you block off certain times of the week for study, or try to study at certain times, such as when commuting. Another option could be taking a class in your language, or even just finding an online exchange partner, so that you have to engage with your language on a semi-regular basis. This leads us onto tip number two!
Tip number two: Seek out the social element?
Unless you’re studying an ancient language, it’s likely that one of the factors in your language-learning journey is a need to communicate. Try to keep this social focus wherever possible, since this will help to inspire you and to regard your other language as something living and exciting, which we can easily lose sight of when studying complex grammar on our own. If it’s at all possible, try to strike up conversations with native speakers of your other language, even if it feels daunting to do so. If you’re studying the language in your home country and you don’t know anyone who speaks it natively, try to find a study friend either in real life or online, so that you can practise together and encourage one another to keep going.?
Tip number three: Lean into aspects of the culture that inspire you?
This can be really important if you’re learning a language in a country where it’s actually spoken, since finding aspects of the culture that resonate with you can help you to feel better connected to the country and the people. If your interest in the culture is the main reason you moved there, you’re probably already ahead with this, but even if you’re living abroad for other reasons, it’s helpful to try to find some element of the culture that interests you, whether this comes in the form of arts and crafts, soap opera, sports, or any other activity. If you’re learning a language in your home country, watching TV series or listening to music in that language is helpful not only in terms of giving you background exposure, but also keeping up your motivation and helping you to feel like more of an inside part of the culture.?
Tip number four: Allow yourself demotivated days?
Even if you’re studying a language that you’re completely passionate about, it’s normal to have days when you feel less than enthusiastic about it. It might be that you’re stuck on a particular grammar point, or you feel you’ve hit a plateau in your learning. You might also be otherwise feeling tired, or overburdened with other more immediate situations that you have to tackle in life. Try not to feel guilty about feeling indifferent towards your other language. Instead, it could help to either take some time out altogether, or to find a less daunting approach. If you don’t feel like you can focus on studying new topics, try to listen to some music or watch Netflix in that language instead, so that you keep some background exposure going and retain your level of interest. If you can’t face studying difficult grammar, study something easy instead, or review what you’ve learned already. This might help you overcome the mental hurdle of sitting down to study, and if you start with something easy, you might even be motivated to continue on with harder work.?
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Tip number five: Celebrate your successes
One of the most demotivating aspects of learning a language is the fact that it’s hard for us to gauge our own progress, because we learn incrementally. This means that we could have made fantastic strides towards competence without really feeling like we’re getting any better. If you’re starting to doubt yourself, consider pulling out some of your old assignments or other notes in a language and seeing where you were then compared to now. If you’re using your language in everyday situations, try to remember times when you successfully held a whole conversation in that language. If you’re really just starting out, think of times when you were able to read a whole sentence or short stretch of text. If you’re really doubting in your abilities, try asking an outside observer, such as a classmate or a friend who speaks your target language, for reassurance.
Tip number six: Never stop trying?
Learning another language is a demanding process for anyone. It takes hard work and persistence, and unlike other less communicative forms of learning, it also takes a huge amount of courage. It’s very easy to get disheartened if, for example, you’ve made mistakes or people have struggled to understand you (or worse, criticised you). Remember that this is all part of the process, and as far as possible try to see small mishaps as a way of motivating yourself to continue to grow. As the old saying goes, it’s not how we fall that matters, but how we pick ourselves back up again. Also remember that you’re already making a heroic effort by just trying.
We hope our tips will be helpful to anyone who’s faltering in their language-learning efforts (or even to those of you who are already doing great). If you have any further tips, we’ll love to read them in the comments.?
Happy language learning, and see you again in a month for our next updates!?
Sources?
8 Tips for Language Learning Motivation and Avoiding Procrastination
Intrinsic Motivation vs. Extrinsic Motivation: What's the Difference?