subject: Setting Language Learning Goals [print this page] In Estonia at the beginning of language courses learners' language levels are tested in detail, however nobody asks them, What are your goals? Why do you learn the language? What do you want to do with it?" Thus, it is often the case that the original goal to learn a language in order to get a better paid job turns to something like My goal is to pass the test!" However, these two goals are totally different and a person who is able to pass the test successfully is not necessarily a good communicator, unless the test measures how successfully he communicates in his field which is rarely the case. Thus, writing down one's goals is important as it motivates the learner and fosters one's success. The research results in the framework of EU project "Don't Give Up! Motivating adult students to complete language courses" (http://dontgiveup.eu) claim that the answer to the question, "Why do you want to study the language?", is inevitable and key one while choosing the instruction form and making up a lesson plan.
