My opinion

What motivates a person to learn a second language and why are some people more successful than others at accomplishing that? Gardner and Lambert believed that learners motivation was mainly influenced by their environment, the social context and the prestige around it. Although it has been proved that not only the community integration contributes in motivating the learners, I think that the environment plays a determinant role in language acquisition and contributes to encourage learns to study more, challenge themselves and one more important thing, it s determinant for their survival. Talking about myself, when I first arrived in China I felt uncomfortable not understanding what people said to me, as a learner, I took it as a personal challenge. I challenged myself and after a year, I was able to understand and communicate fluently with my peers and colleagues. I felt the same when I was a child, listening my Canadian auntie speaking English with my cousins. However, we do need to consider different variables in language learning, the more situated-cognitive factors, for instance, are surely determinant variables in the process of learning. It is interesting to analyze Ema Ushioda’s diagram. In its most basic form, she declares that general learners’ may not engage in L2 learning because of specific goals, but rather because they have participated in positive L2 learning experiences. I firmly believe that positive experience and a constant good influence on the pupils could definitely change pupil’s perspectives towards languages. The teacher has a relevant position and a great responsibility. Good teaching and passion could make a “bad” student the “best” student, active and always ready to take part in the class’s activities.