Why create authentic needs for learning language?

There are many variables to learning language, however, motivation is one of the key ingredients. In particular, intrinsic motivation: internal motivation form within. But, nurturing intrinsic motivation is difficult as a lot of the time it is heavily dependent on the learner. There is ana additional approach to help the acquisition of language and learning in general.

Humans do things for a variety of reasons. We work because we need money to live. We eat because our biological systems demand and reward us to do us. The same is also true for acquiring language. The first language you acquire, you need to. Without mastering language, a child cannot express what they want or need. It is massively beneficial to learn language. It is a need! The same is true for other skills. If there is an authentic need to acquire them, then the driving force behind the process of acquiring them is self-sustaining.

When learning another language, creating authentic needs can be a handy tool. Whether this is by using English to book hotels abroad, communicating with a friend form another country, understanding Harry Potter, or asking to go to the park, there are many creative ways to implement needs to learn. Remember though, keep it positive! Any negativity could have the opposite effect.