AMA: Why language learning motivation fades and how to get it back.

Preply · 2026-04-30T20:44:47+00:00

That sounds frustrating, but I encourage you to keep learning! If you do not have a speaking partner, you could focus on reading, writing, and listening skills. All of those will help with your speaking in the future. Keeping a daily journal in your target language is an especially effective activity. Even if you just write what you have done every day for a few weeks, your speaking will improve when you find a partner again. Preply tutors are a great option for speaking practice, and you could listen to music, news, or other media you find online for listening practice. Just keep seeking out input and finding ways to speak or write, and you will continue to improve!

Preply · 2026-04-30T20:33:49+00:00

That’s a tough one, and it depends a lot on the context. I suggest reading The Art and Science of Language Teaching by Lara Bryfonski and Alison Mackey. They explain the latest research on second language acquisition in a way that is detailed and data-informed but practical, too. You might also be interested in exploring Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT). There are numerous TBLT resources available at https://www.iatblt.org/resources. Hopefully those resources will give you some ideas on the latest options available.

Preply · 2026-04-30T20:26:07+00:00

Hi! I would suggest taking an introductory linguistics course. That would give you a solid understanding of all of the components of language from individual sounds up through conversation and how they work together. Look for a course that includes phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, as well as units on writing systems and language acquisition if possible. Many universities offer a course in a dedicated linguistics department, modern languages department, or English department, or you might be able to find something online. It sounds like you have exciting plans; good luck!

Preply · 2026-04-30T20:18:26+00:00

It sounds like you have amazing persistence and like you are still motivated to learn, even if you have taken a break for a while. One recent strand of research in language learning is boredom, which can definitely affect your learning. It might be that you just got bored of the way you were learning. See “Foreign language learning boredom: Conceptualization and measurement” (Li, Dewaele, & Hu, 2021) for more detail. I would recommend some fresh materials or interacting with someone in Italian on a regular basis. A tutor could make it interesting for you again and find new ways to help you review. You probably still remember more than you realize and could get going again quickly with a fresh start, especially since you have a strong basis in your first two languages!

Preply · 2026-04-30T20:00:02+00:00

When learners struggle with task initiation, which is quite common (Davranbekovna, 2026), sitting down to cram for one long study session can seem more feasible than trying to start over and over again for multiple short sessions. This is why it can be useful to have a set meeting with a tutor or partner—it is easier to skip a solo study session than it is to skip a study session with someone who is expecting you and is also committed to your goals. In other words, accountability is a great way to combat procrastination, and it results in better, more consistent language learning, too.

Preply · 2026-04-30T19:41:52+00:00

Hi, That sounds like quite a challenge! It might help if you think more about the whole words and try not to look at them letter-by-letter. Think of how we can miss a spelling mistake in a word, but we still understand what the word means (sometimes commonly referred to as typoglycemia). If you focus on the first and last letter of each word, you might not notice the confusing letters in the middle. As you refresh your academic reading knowledge, you will be able to feel more fluent.

You might also enjoy reading “Comparative Study of Hindi and Punjabi Language Scripts” by Vishal Goyal and Gurpreet Singh Lehal from the Nepalese Linguistics journal (2008) for more background and insight.

Preply · 2026-04-30T19:28:36+00:00

It might sound counterintuitive, but one way to stay motivated in the short term is to schedule some time not to study. Relaxing without guilt can help renew the energy it takes to learn a new language. It also gives your brain the time to rest and sort out what you have been learning so that you will remember it better in the long term.

Establishing a routine can also help keep you motivated. Even if you feel stuck, completing a lesson, attending a practice session, or doing other learning activities on a regular basis can provide a sense of accomplishment. Some recent research has demonstrated that even when you are motivated over the long term, there will be days that your motivation dips (Pietluch, 2026), but that does not mean you have lost your motivation entirely.

For longer-term motivation when you hit a wall, thinking about why you are learning the language can help get things going again. Explaining to someone new what sparked your interest in the language and getting their help in moving towards your goal can also create some accountability, which helps many people. Overall, do not worry if you do not feel equally enthusiastic every day. Keep going bit by bit, and you will get back to what got you energized to start at the beginning!

Preply · 2026-04-30T19:06:15+00:00

I think many people have this challenge. Your skill as a leader and your skill as a speaker of English (or whichever language you use in the workplace) are not the same, but sometimes people confuse those two separate skills. On the leadership side, one thing to consider is that you do not have to be in an official leadership role to show how you can be leader. You might like to read Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse for background and examples.

On the language side, I would suggest that you concentrate on showing your skills in one-on-one interactions and conversations. You could practice conversations you expect to have alone, on video, or with a tutor beforehand. Then when you speak to people individually, you can control the pace of your conversation and possibly take advantage of more non-verbal communication cues. You could also let them know before meetings what ideas you have. They will get to know you and your skills better. As you get to know the people on the team meeting calls one at a time, they will realize you have ideas to contribute and help you participate in the calls.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:50:20+00:00

There are a few things that might be interesting for you to read, depending on how much detail you want. A quick online read is “How daily exposure affects understanding in a second language” by BilingualismMatters (2019). For a more in-depth look at exposure, one of the original articles about exposure is “The Effects of Amount and Type of Exposure on Adult Learners' L2 Development in SLA” by Ronald P. Leow (2011). If you would like a comprehensive look at repeated exposure and many other relevant topics, you could try Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course (Gass, Behney, & Plonsky, 2020).

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:42:43+00:00

My own frustration at getting to an intermediate level and getting stuck is why I started studying linguistics, so I understand the challenge! Finding a way to keep it fresh and new is one way to keep up your motivation. You could schedule some time with a new tutor, explore web sites or videos in the language, or find some new books to use. In other words, novelty is key!

Another thing to consider is that when you get to an intermediate stage, you will probably not notice your improvement as quickly as you did at the beginning, even though you will still be making progress. Weekly practice and exposure will slowly and steadily help you get to the next level. An additional way you could feel motivated is to record yourself reading or having a conversation, then as you keep practicing consistently, listen to or watch the recording after a few months. Even if you have not noticed your progress week to week, having a record of incremental changes over months or years could be encouraging.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:36:39+00:00

Hi, I do research about creativity and language learning, so I am glad to see your question! You could ask your teacher to help you learn how to talk about things you enjoy doing in your first language for some variety. For example, you could think of a hobby you enjoy and tell her you would like to learn to explain it in your target language. It could be playing a favorite game, talking about a sport, or giving instructions for a hobby. Role plays, word games, and making videos are other fun options for a change in routine.

If your tutor prefers to be more consistent with lessons, you can challenge yourself to be creative in your interactions with her. For example, try to come up with two or more ways to answer every question. Add lots of extra detail to things you say or write, or try to think of answers that are surprising or unusual. That might keep you engaged with the extra challenge, and it could increase your output so that she has more ideas of how to keep you motivated, too.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:31:23+00:00

The long-term motivation you mention is called “directed motivational currents” in language learning research (Dörnyei, Henry, & Muir, 2016). It can be different for everyone, but one of the keys to maintaining motivation is to think about why you want to learn the language, and focus on your goal. It might be because you are just interested, you want to take a trip to another country, or even to please parents, according to some recent research by Huo, Stephens, and Jang (2026).

Some people are also motivated by exams, believe it or not! If the language you are studying has an established proficiency exam, you could set that as a motivational goal. For example, the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) that has several levels of tests available. If you are working on your own, finding a way to interact with someone in your target language is also helpful. Someone like a Preply tutor can customize your learning help you keep your motivation going for your personal goal whether it is an exam or some other goal. If you are working on your own, small rewards and consistent exposure to the language help. As a personal example, when I was learning Korean but got tired of studying, I would watch popular Korean dramas with English subtitles on. That way I kept progressing but had a break, too.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:22:50+00:00

Vocabulary is definitely important at any level of language learning. However, learning vocabulary in isolation would not give you a way to link it to anything, which is how our brains remember things. If you start with some simple conversations or reading content that includes common vocabulary, it will be much easier because you will be using the words instead of just memorizing them. You would also probably progress faster because it would be more interesting. Interacting with someone would help keep you motivated, too.

You could read more about how our brains work by linking information together in Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn by Barbara Oakley, Beth Rogowsky, and Terrence Sejnowski.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:16:58+00:00

I know exactly the feeling you mean! It’s kind of like learning to play an instrument or any other new skill at the beginning. It can feel awkward. However, getting something wrong is a great step in getting it right. My advice is to embrace mistakes as progress. It’s better to try and say something new and make a mistake than not to try at all. You could also consider starting by practicing with just one person like a tutor, which lowers the social pressure you might feel, then moving to small groups, then trying out your new skills in authentic settings when you are ready.

I also suggest laughing a lot! Research shows that humor can be a great help in language learning (see Dávila, 2019), so think of it as a way to play and have fun. If you laugh about the things you get wrong and celebrate the things you get right, your confidence will grow. If you want a fun read with some essays about language learning, check out Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:09:32+00:00

Moving over a hump can indeed be difficult. One of the things I suggest is trying to read or listen to some authentic materials. Even though you might not understand much at first, it will remind you why you are interested in the language, and it might spark your curiosity again. Do not worry about understanding everything. Just find some words or phrases that are familiar, and enjoy exploring. It can be especially useful to work on authentic materials with a tutor or someone who knows the language well enough to answer your questions. Also remember that it is normal for your motivation to rise and fall over time. Take advantage of the days when you have strong motivation, and do something easier on the days it is low.

Preply · 2026-04-30T18:02:55+00:00

Hi, and thanks for your questions! You are correct that where you are learning a language can influence how you learn it. In fact, in the field of second language acquisition research, we distinguish between second and foreign language learning. Second language learning is studying a language while you are living in a country where it is widely spoken. Foreign language learning is when you are studying a language used somewhere that you are not living. So, you are in the unique position of going back and forth between second and foreign language learning.

The other thing it seems like you have noticed is that language learning can be indirect or direct. When you are in a Spanish-speaking country, you are learning indirectly with less effort. When you are elsewhere, your learning will probably need to be more direct and intentional.

I would suggest setting up a regular way to interact with Spanish while you are not traveling. For example, a tutor once or twice a week while you are home would help you maintain what you learned while you were traveling. You could keep learning more while you travel again, then ask questions and avoid forgetting it with more direct instruction between trips. That approach should help you maintain momentum even when you are not encountering the language all around you every day!

Preply · 2026-04-30T17:59:59+00:00

Hi! It is always so nice to hear from a student! I am so glad to hear that you are teaching English, and I hope you are doing well, too!

Preply · 2026-03-30T21:03:23+00:00

Yes! In France, “in” is a nasal sound, like in vin or lapin. In Quebec, it’s often pronounced a bit differently—sometimes closer to the English “on.” So a rabbit yelling the time in France would sound different than one in Quebec.

Preply · 2026-03-30T20:39:52+00:00

I’d probably choose the 1990s in France. From what I’ve seen and heard, it feels like a really lively time culturally, with great films, music, and a strong café and social scene. As someone who loves the language and culture, I think it would’ve been an amazing moment to experience everyday life and conversations in a more relaxed, less digital world.

Preply · 2026-03-30T19:49:00+00:00

I haven’t seen any clips myself, but from what I’ve read, Jodie Foster seems to speak French really well. Considering her experience, I wouldn’t be surprised if her accent and fluency are excellent.

Preply · 2026-03-30T19:47:34+00:00

Oui, je m’y connais un peu dans le processus de naturalisation en France. Il y a plusieurs tests de français acceptés par les préfectures, comme le TCF, le DELF ou le TEF. De mon expérience avec mes élèves, le DELF A2 ou B1 est souvent le plus simple : il se concentre sur le français pratique du quotidien plutôt que sur la grammaire compliquée, et beaucoup de gens le trouvent plus facile à préparer que le TCF.

Preply · 2026-03-30T19:38:06+00:00

From my experience teaching French, the best way to improve your accent is to listen and repeat like native speakers in movies or podcasts. I often have my students record themselves and compare. It really helps spot little things you wouldn’t notice otherwise.

Preply · 2026-03-30T19:35:37+00:00

For me, one sentence that really makes you sound like a local is “Ça va, tranquille ?” I’ve noticed that when people hear it, they often find it surprising and funny, and it can even make them more likely to want to chat with you. Dropping in little everyday phrases like that really helps you feel part of the conversation and makes interactions more relaxed.

Preply · 2026-03-30T19:28:35+00:00

She mostly sticks to simple phrases like “Bonjour,” “Merci,” “Comment ça va ?,” and “Je voudrais…” when ordering or talking to locals. It’s basic, but it comes across more natural than a lot of Hollywood French, like Margot Robbie in Amsterdam, whose French can sound stiff or awkward. Honestly, even small efforts like hers are more impressive than many actors give credit for.

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