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Amy Manley

Professor Ingman

EDUC-X 426.1

25 October 2020

Motivation and Anxiety in L2 Learning Opinion Paper

When learning a second language, or learning any new subject, motivation is the most

important factor to success. I have not acquired a second language, although I did take two years

of a Spanish language course in high school. I believe that lack of motivation kept me from

becoming fluent in the language. As I was extremely driven to achieve a high grade in the class, I

worked hard on assignments and studied for tests. I did not, however, take those classes with the

mindset that I would eventually become proficient in this new language. I could have looked for

opportunities to converse with Spanish speakers, taken additional courses in college, or even

studied abroad. Since my motivation was limited to keeping a high GPA in school, not to

acquiring a second language, I did not put in the effort needed to become fluent in Spanish.

Motivation to learn a second language can come from a variety of places. Many younger

students want to learn a second language in order to communicate with teachers and to fit in with

their peers. Some students are highly motivated by success and achievement, so grades and

awards push them to work hard. In some families, pressure is placed on the children by their

parents to acquire the new language so that they will be successful in their future. High school

students may even be motivated to learn a second language so that they have an easier time in

college or in the workforce. The best type of motivation is the one that comes from within.

Students that are externally motivated will stop trying when they get frustrated or tired.

Internally motivated students push past what hinders them and give extra effort They do not
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want to give up until their goal is reached. This type of motivation is essential to learning a

second language.

Stress and anxiety often affect the process of learning a second language, or any subject

matter. Small amounts of pressure can be a positive factor in learning. The stress of an

impending test, for instance, positively influences a student to study. Too much stress, however,

can have the opposite effect. Personally, stress and anxiety are generally negative factors in my

learning environment. I find that I focus so much on my anxiety that it becomes hard to

concentrate on the task at hand. I remember the feeling of taking a timed test in school. As time

passed and I was closer to the deadline, my heart beat faster and I felt jittery. I began to panic and

my mind started to shut down. While stress can motivate students to try harder on a specific

assignment, I believe that it is important to have the least amount of anxiety when learning a new

subject or language, especially anxiety related to social pressures. A supportive environment, free

of embarrassment and fear of failure, is the best place to try something new.