I think that MOTIVATION is the biggest factor affecting SUCCESS.

This is true in any endeavour, but most definitely applies to language learning. The amount of motivation one has, coupled with the correct approach, seems to correlate with the amount of success one has. I think this is because motivation will keep one consistent and dedicated. If one lacks motivation, they will struggle to put in the necessary time and work to achieving a goal. Whereas, if one is really motivated, they will put in a lot of time and work.

There are two different types of motivation: extrinsic (external) and intrinsic (internal). Though internal motivation seems to be the most valuable, I think there is often a link between the two types of motivation. It is often the case that an external source can provide a strong internal motivation. This can be seen in the example of Daniel Tammet, who learnt Icelandic in a week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GXjPEkDfek. His external motivation was the set goal of speaking fluently live on Icelandic television in a week. An impending time frame such as this would have greatly affected his internal motivation, making him put in the work required to succeed. Other examples of external motivation could be that students want to pass an exam, they have a partner who speaks the language, or they have a job opportunity predicated on them speaking English. These are good sources of motivation that will keep students invested even when the learning task is difficult or boring. However, I think that despite having an external motivator in place, it can still be difficult to learn a language. This comes down to internal motivation being slightly weak. Sometimes, having an exam to complete is not motivation enough. Examples of internal motivation are having a desire to communicate generally, a desire for self-improvement, or having a curiosity or passion for learning. This was the case with me when I was learning German. I had external motivators, such as going on holiday in Germany and having to obtain a qualification, however I feel that I succeeded in those external tests because of an internal motivation. I was interested in German culture, everything from their movies and music to their food and lifestyle, and so I wished to be able to appreciate this things better by learning the language. I also had the internal motivation of curiosity, where I enjoyed learning for the sake of learning. I found it pleasurable to acquire lots of different words each day. It felt like I was using parts of my brain that I normally did not.

I think motivation can also change on a day-to-day basis. If someone is having a bad day, they might not be as focused and motivated to learn a language. If I know that I have to memorise thirty words one day, but I have a cold, I might see it as a chore and be reluctant to do it. In order to be successful in language learning, I think one should take into account that they may having shifting amounts of motivation each day and so one should leave some room to reduce every so often or take a day off. Contrary to this, one could reinforce their motivation to the point where they find the learning to be a pleasure. If this becomes the case, it could be that one finds it quite relaxing to learn a language even if they are having a bad day.

What do YOU think the BIGGEST factor for SUCCESS is? :-)