Motivation and Goal-Setting: Tools to enhance language learning

Abstract

In this demanding world, people need to be in constant improvement to become

successful active members in their society. During the first term of this semester we

have learned that autonomy can help leaners in many different aspects of their life,

particularly in second language acquisition. It is well known that there are a lot of

reasons to study a second language, in our case the English language. Some of

these reasons are: English helps people to apply for a better job, it is useful for

travelling and getting to know new cultures, and because it is also useful to get better

education and to develop new skills among other aspects.

For our research proposal, we decided to select the topic Motivation and Goal-

Setting because we are strongly convinced that this two distinguishing marks of

learning are really useful to foster second language acquisition. Thinking as future

teachers, we need to be aware of this aspect and take advantage of them to foster

autonomy in learners so they can reach a good degree of proficiency in a second

language.

Introduction

The use of goal setting in business and in other fields has been well researched

during the last decade. The results of such researches have recognised that by

setting goals, either short-term or long-term, global enterprises have become

successful, mainly because as Hodges (1992) mentions Goals are powerful, precise

statements about intentions. They are motivated by plans, dreams, and desires,
powered by discipline and maintained through commitment. So according to this it

is quite remarkable that there is evidence of its application and efficacy in language

learning. But, what about motivation? Well, if these two concepts are combined they

may serve as a powerful tool to enhance autonomy in language learning.

For that reason, in the following pages we will explain what we have found about

how motivation and goal-setting are related to the promotion of autonomy in

language learning. The main two aims of this research proposal are a) to provide a

short definition of motivation and goal-setting, and b) to discover if these two

concepts are really useful to develop autonomy in language learning.

What is motivation?

(Here you need to come up with a definition of motivation, you can also explain the

main division intrinsic and extrinsic and how they help learners to become

autonomous also. Read the manual we have just where it talks about motivation and

this about motivation https://www.tesol.org/read-and-publish/journals/other-serial-

publications/compleat-links/compleat-links-volume-5-issue-2-(june-2008)/motivating-

language-learners-to-succeed )

What is goal-setting?

(Here you may talk about the definition and what researchers have found bout its

relation with learning. Read this: https://hilt.harvard.edu/files/hilt/files/settinggoals.pdf

)
 Is personal goal-setting helpful or useful to develop autonomy in language

learning?

Now it is understandable that goal-setting involves the use of metacognitive

strategies such as organising and planning for study, monitoring, evaluation, etc.

Most students think that goal-setting is really useful for language learning because it

helps in measuring progress or it assist them to find an effective way to learn as they

reflect on their learning.

Regarding motivation, it is true that there are learners who associate a greater sense

of their own responsibility, which can be seen as a development of autonomy, with

goal-setting. For example, autonomy keeps learners motivated for achieving the goal

and it is discipline role. So, it could be stated that goal-setting may be of value as a

learning strategy for some learners, especially at a very lower levels and even at

intermediate levels which not happens at a more advanced level, since this kind of

students may have already developed some degree of autonomy.

Conclusions

As final comments,

And finally to provide a good argument for our topic we may say that it is known that

there are a number of students who have experienced a considerable autonomy

increasing by the establishment of goals, for this reason, me evaluate goal-setting

positively and identified it as a useful tool to enhance language learning.

References:

1. Hodges, J.D. (1992). Learn Faster Now: 28 Day Program in Accelerated Learning.

Australia: IHPR.

2.

3.