Fostering Integrative Motivation among Introductory‐Level German Students through a Language Partners Program

Abstract

Many students enroll in language classes with the instrumentally motivated goal of satisfying a requirement. This article argues that instructors can influence students’ motivation toward more integrative motivation by helping them make connections with the language community. The “Language Partner” program established for a small German program has proven to be successful in moving the motivation of beginning German students in the direction of integrative motivation. Regularly‐scheduled sessions with German speakers give students an opportunity to experience and manipulate the language in authentic contexts. The results of a survey are presented which point toward the success of the program and confirm the benefits for students.

Culture First: Boosting Program Strength Through Cultural Instruction

“…This result is consistent with other research (e.g., Oakes, ), finding that a desire for linguistic proficiency – particularly spoken proficiency – is a powerful motivator. Proficiency provides intrinsic motivational value, as students anticipate the intellectual rewards of language mastery, as well as the integrative value, as they anticipate the social rewards of interacting with the German‐speaking community of practice (Shaver, ).…”