A Student's Message
A Grade 7 student's simple message reminded me why motivation, not perfection, drives language learning. In this first blog post, I connect the story to research and share how parents can support their children.
When I thought about starting this blog, I was unsure how to begin. I wanted the first post to reflect what matters most in my teaching, not just an announcement or a list of services. Then last week, I received a message from one of my grade 7 students.
He had just moved to the United States and was still adjusting to a new school and city. His English is around an A2 level, so spelling and grammar often pose challenges. Still, he chose to write to me in English anyway, outside of our classes.
In that short note, he told me he enjoys our lessons. It was not polished. It was not perfect. But it carried weight. What mattered was the effort and the simple wish to connect.
Why Motivation Matters
Mistakes are part of language learning, but they are not the whole story. What actually shapes progress is the motivation that drives a student to keep trying, even when the path feels uncertain.
A 2024 study in BMC Psychology explored what motivates English learners. The researchers found that many students are guided less by external rewards like grades or approval, and more by internal satisfaction and genuine interest. They also noted that background factors such as age or field of study made little difference in levels of motivation (Kashefian-Naeeini et al., 2024). This suggests something worth sitting with: when the conditions support it, any learner can develop strong internal motivation regardless of where they start.
What It Looks Like in Practice
My student’s message is one example of how this motivation appears in everyday life. He was not required to write. He was not completing an assignment. He reached out because he wanted to, taking a risk to express himself in a language he is still learning.
That willingness to try, despite mistakes, is what makes long-term growth possible.
For students who are new to a country, these moments are often turning points. They are navigating an unfamiliar language and culture at the same time. What sustains them is not flawless grammar but the sense that their efforts are noticed and valued.
How Parents Can Help
Parents play a vital role in building this confidence. A few consistent habits can make English less intimidating and more a part of daily life.
- Praise the effort, not only the outcome. A child who tries deserves recognition, even when the result is imperfect.
- Invite English into small routines: ordering food, writing simple notes, labelling objects around the house.
- Treat mistakes as a natural step, not a failure.
- Ask your child about what they are learning. Listen closely to what they share.
These practices create an environment where trying feels safe. Progress becomes visible over time.
Closing Thoughts
Learning a new language is demanding work. It takes patience, courage, and the willingness to face uncertainty. Yet real success begins not with a perfect sentence but with the decision to speak, to write, to reach out.
Reference
Kashefian-Naeeini, S., Shokrpour, N., & Pakdel, F. (2024). Optimizing EFL learning: Exploring the role of learner background factors and the nuances of their effects on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among university students in a mixed-methods study. BMC Psychology, 12, Article 535. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02034-8