Motivation Factors For Adults Learning English

Abstract

Learning foreign languages is one of the most important skills intended for all adult learners and lasting all their lives. Because of processes of globalization in the world, knowing foreign languages is perceived as being very valuable, especially in terms of career possibilities, learning about other cultures, wishing to avoid obstacles in communication when travelling and to ensure accessibility of information through the Internet, press or TV. Motivation can be described as an entity of external and internal factors which encourage a person to achieve certain goals. External motivation is influenced by a variety of external factors, i.e. an approaching exam, a wish to get a better salary or a possibility to go abroad. Internal motivation is largely dependent on a person him/herself. It can be, for example, emotions caused by the process of learning or a desire to feel comfortable in multicultural surroundings. There are various factors that emerge when adults learn English: free-time and career, change of job or living place, family reasons etc. In addition, every person should be encouraged to learn foreign languages and conditions must be met to achieve that. This paper presents a research carried out in 2009 by Vytautas Magnus University lecturers. Its aim was to determine the factors that motivate adult learners to learn English in the extra-mural studies at Vytautas Magnus University as well as in English language courses for the general public at the university. For the research, 127 questionnaires were distributed among adult learners. In the questionnaires, the respondents were asked to indicate the factors that make them learn English, their English learning experiences and difficulties. The respondents were also asked to indicate where they use English and what skills they expect to gain or improve while learning English.