How do different motivations change how students learn English?

Steffanie Zazulak
Steffanie Zazulak
A teacher stood helping a student in a large classroomw with other students sat working
Reading time: 4 minutes

Students all over the globe learn English for many reasons. Some of these motivations may come from the students themselves – perhaps they are learning because they are travelling to an English-speaking area, or they want to be able to converse with English-speaking friends and colleagues. Other reasons for learning could include meeting school requirements, studying abroad, or progressing their careers.

As well as different reasons to learn English, there are also different goals. Many students are still focused on becoming fluent in English, and we are seeing an increase in people who want to learn the language for specific reasons. For example, immersing themselves in a particular culture or simply being able to order from a menu while travelling abroad.

Teachers are focusing on these personal needs to help students achieve their actual goals. It’s likely you’ve already spoken to your students about why they want to learn English. Understanding this is important as different motivations can influence a student’s attitude towards learning the language – and it may be necessary for you to adapt your teaching strategies for different groups of learners.

Teaching English to different groups of learners

Let’s meet some different groups of students, learn a little more about their motivations and explore whether different motivations alter how students learn English. You may recognise some of these learners in your classes.

1. Adult learners

These students are learning English for pleasure or personal reasons. It might be because of travel, social or family reasons or perhaps because a better grasp of English might assist them with their careers. There are also adult learners who could be learning English as an immigration requirement.

For example, 23-year-old Alice decided to learn English so she could meet people and have more meaningful interactions with her English-speaking neighbours. She says: “I was very shy and not very confident in speaking to people, but learning English helped me connect with others and meet new people. I have changed a lot.”

A motivation like Alice’s requires strong teacher support and peer motivation woven into structured learning. Alice can set her goals and with the GSE Learning Objectives map out what she needs to do to achieve them. Teacher encouragement and personal support – and easy access to digital coursework, a social community of others all learning English, and small classes that emphasise conversation – keep people like Alice engaged and motivated to achieve her language goals. “I cannot do it without them”, she says.

2. Professional learners

These learners are typically in a more formal type of English programme and are learning the language to achieve specific career milestones, such as a promotion. Their employer might even be paying for their learning or they might be reimbursed for the cost of their lessons.

Vincenzo is 33 and works as a Product Manager in Milan for an international organization with offices around the world. He says: “I asked to take English classes as part of my professional development. My company chose an English provider and gave me a choice of group or one-to-one classes. I chose one-to-one classes as I’m easily distracted.”

Professional learners like Vincenzo succeed using a blended learning model of learning in class and at home that they can tailor around their lives. They have a strong motivation to succeed – that’s why learning at home works for them – but step-by-step progress provided by the GSE Learning Objectives is also important to keep this motivation alive. “I met with my teacher once a week where we would work on mistakes I would make while speaking English. He would also give me extra practice materials, like interesting games and videos to listen to in my own time, to help me really get a better understanding of the language,” Vincenzo says.

3. Academic learners

Learning English is a requirement for many school programmes and students will continue this at college or university. Many of these students will be learning English with a formal course that offers practice tests for high-stakes exams.

Seventeen-year-old Subra is from Malaysia and learns English at school. Some of her family live in Australia and she is considering studying abroad to attend a University that specializes in health care. When she was young, she learned in a traditional classroom backed with tests that helped her see how she was progressing. Now she uses technology, such as her Android Huawei phone to practise her English but still needs the validation of regular testing to know she is on track.

Subra says: “I am used to studying for tests as I prepared hard for exams to get into middle school and senior school, which was totally determined by test results.”

Academic learners like Subra need to see demonstrable results to help them stay motivated and guide them to the level of English they need to achieve to get the required score on high-stakes tests. With the clear GSE Learning Objectives and a placement test, academic learners can map out where they are right now and where they need to be in order to reach their academic goals. These learners need encouragement and validation of their progress from their teachers to help keep them on track.

Understanding student motivations will help you teach to their specific needs, thus helping them to stay focused and motivated in achieving their goals.

Read our posts 'How to improve literacy in the classroom' and 'Why don’t my students speak English in class?'.

Explore our English courses

More blogs from Pearson

  • A woman studying in a library writing in a book
    Setting boundaries and avoiding burnout as a language learner
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Learning a new language can be exciting. It can also be challenging. Many language learners feel pressure to study every day, learn quickly and reach fluency as soon as possible.

    This pressure can lead to burnout: a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. When you are burned out, studying becomes difficult, stressful and less enjoyable. The good news is that setting healthy boundaries can help you continue learning while protecting your wellbeing.

    What are boundaries?

    Boundaries are limits that help you take care of yourself. They help you decide how much time, energy and attention you can give to something.

    For example, a boundary might be:

    • Studying for only 20 minutes at a time
    • Taking breaks when you feel overwhelmed
    • Saying no to extra language activities when you are tired
    • Not comparing your progress to other learners

    Boundaries are not signs of weakness. They are tools that help you learn in a sustainable way.

    Understand your energy levels

    Many people experience changes in energy and focus throughout the day. Some days you may feel highly motivated. On other days, even a simple lesson may feel difficult.

    Instead of forcing yourself to follow the same schedule every day, try paying attention to your energy levels.

    Ask yourself:

    • When do I focus best?
    • How long can I study before I feel tired?
    • What activities give me energy?
    • What activities drain my energy?

    You may discover that listening to a podcast feels easy, while studying grammar for an hour feels exhausting. This information can help you create a learning routine that works for you.

  • Children sat around a teacher holding a book
    8 children's book ideas for language teachers
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Every year, events like Children's Book Week, World Book Day and others offer excellent opportunities to celebrate reading, imagination and learning. Books enable children to explore new ideas, expand their vocabulary and develop a love for language. For teachers and educators, they offer an opportunity to make reading both fun and memorable.

    Whether you teach young learners, English language learners or multilingual students, you can bring your classroom together through stories. Here are some simple activities to try.

    1. Story reading circle

    Choose a children's book that matches your students' language level. Read the story aloud and encourage students to listen carefully. Use pictures to support understanding and ask simple questions during the reading.

    For example:

    • What do you think will happen next?
    • Who is your favorite character?
    • How is the character feeling?

    This activity helps students practice listening skills and learn new vocabulary in context.

    2. Character drawing and description

    After reading a story, ask students to draw their favorite character. Then have them write a few sentences describing the character.

    Younger learners can use sentence starters such as:

    • My character is...
    • They have...
    • They like...

    This activity combines creativity with reading and writing practice.

    3. Create a new ending

    Invite students to imagine a different ending for the story. They can write a short paragraph, create a comic strip or discuss their ideas in pairs.

    This promotes creative thinking and allows students to meaningfully engage with language.

    4. Book-themed vocabulary hunt

    Choose 10 to 15 key words from the book and create a vocabulary hunt. Students can search for the words in the story and match them with pictures, definitions or translations.

    You can also ask students to use the new words in their own sentences.

    Vocabulary activities help learners remember language more effectively by connecting words to a story they have enjoyed.

    5. Storytelling with pictures

    Select several pictures from the book and display them in a random order. Students work individually or in groups to put the pictures in the correct sequence and retell the story.

    This activity develops speaking skills, sequencing skills and confidence in using language.

    6. Dress as a book character

    If possible, organize a simple book character day. Students can dress as their favorite character or create a paper mask.

    Ask each student to introduce their character to the class by answering questions such as:

    • Who are you?
    • What do you do in the story?
    • Why are you important?

    This is a fun way to practice speaking and presentation skills.

    7. Create a classroom book

    Work together to create a class story. Each student contributes one page with a sentence and an illustration. When all the pages are finished, combine them into a classroom book.

    Students are often proud to see their work become part of a real book. It also helps them understand how stories are created.

    8. Book recommendations wall

    Encourage students to share books they enjoy. They can write a short recommendation and add it to a classroom display.

    Here's a simple template with questions for pupils to complete:

    • What's the book title?
    • Who's your favorite character?
    • Why do you recommend this book?

    This activity promotes reading while giving students a purpose for writing.

    Celebrate the joy of reading

    Book-related events go beyond just celebrating books. They are a means of curiosity, creativity and language learning. Simple activities can motivate students to read more, discover new ideas and gain confidence in their language skills. By nurturing positive reading experiences, teachers help students develop lifelong habits that support their learning journey. Regardless of learners' age or language proficiency, a good story can unlock a world of opportunities.

  • A teachr standing by students in a classroom holding a tablet up
    Assessment Evolved ELT edition: Supporting English language assessment in the age of GenAI
    By Mike Mayor
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    The conversation around generative AI in education has moved quickly.

    For English language teachers, though, the reality in classrooms has often felt more complicated than the headlines suggest.

    AI tools are already being used by students. Teachers are trying to understand where these tools help, where they create challenges and what this means for learning moving forward.

    One thing educators continue to raise is the need for practical support. Not just discussions about AI itself, but guidance that connects to real classroom experiences and day-to-day teaching.

    That is part of the reason behind the ELT Edition of Assessment Evolved: Formative Assessment in a Generative AI Era.