Teacher Discussion Forums

Hello all,

I'm currently researching the cultural effects of language acquisition and thought I would pose a question to the group.

What do EFL or ESL students want? What motivates them to learn English?

I’d like to narrow it down to four fields and then analize them based on demographics and psychographics in relation to culture.

For example:

EFL JAPAN

1. Conversation school students over 30 have to learn for their job.
2. University students learn because it’s cool.
3. Elementary/junior high/high school students learn because they have to.
4. Elderly learn to keep their mind active.

I hope we can all learn from this.

1 overlaps with 4 (that is, 1 seems a bit too specific). Not sure also about 2...the only ones that are less debatable are 3 and perhaps 4 (even "the elderly" will have their differing individual reasons for learning English).

Hi Fluffyhamster,

My list is intended as an example only. I'm hoping that others will list their four examples. Mine are very generalized.

I would like to know what other teachers feel is the main motivation for learning English. Age groups will help in the psychographic analysis whereas stating whether from EFL or ESL and the country will aid in demographics.

I'm wondering if we can divide ESL and EFL, and then further divide the disciplines by country and culture.

Well, good luck if you can formulate just four (necessarily generalized) statements that are completely watertight and all-inclusive! I'll have a think and get back to you if I have a brainwave (unlikely, though, that!).

I appreciate your time Fluffyhamster.

Maybe you can give me your insight.

I didn't want to be too specific with my example since it, as it may have already done, could lead the reader.

Maybe an example that is more worthy of argument will stir a response:

My Novastic students expect that the teacher will:

1. provide them with a grammar based lesson as they are accustomed to.
2. make them laugh.
3. help them to improve without having to do homework.
4. after 40 lessons, be able to see remarkable results.

Would anyone else like to take a crack at it?

The majority of my students are young Chinese studying English in New Zealand with the hope of getting an IELTS score and then going to university or polytechnic in NZ. I believe then the aim is to find a job, and get permanent residence.

So their primary motivation is
immigration/further studying/finding a job

As a result they are for the most part extremely motivated, but there again you have to be to go through such an arduous learning process as trying to acquire/learn a second language.

The majority of my students are young Chinese studying English in New Zealand with the hope of getting an IELTS score and then going to university or polytechnic in NZ. I believe then the aim is to find a job, and get permanent residence.

So their primary motivation is
immigration/further studying/finding a job

As a result they are for the most part extremely motivated, but there again you have to be to go through such an arduous learning process as trying to acquire/learn a second language.