I can't go on, I'll go on

Une autre chanson française

E una canzone italiana:

Motivation.  Such an elusive thing.  What would you call it? an emotion, a thought process, a pain in the ass? Uh oh, there I go again.  

One thing's for sure, if you don't have it, it's unlikely you'll be very successful in mastering a second (or third) language.  I suppose that just learning a language for fun could be motivation enough, but I'm finding that it's usually just not enough.  You've got to really really want it.  

Probably the best motivator is one in which it's not a choice; you have to learn Spanish or French because your job requires it, or you're moving to Ecuador, or your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, etc., doesn't speak English.  With those goals, you're never in that shaded area of ambiguity or ambivalence--you've bloody well got to learn the language.  Unfortunately, for English speakers this has not always been a viable approach, simply because English is such a widely spoken language.  You might say:  Well, when I move to Ecuador or Buenos Aires or Poitier, surely there will be enough people around that speak English that I'll get by.  Perhaps, but surely there will be times when knowing how to speak to native speakers will come in very handy.  Or you may live in an area where very few of the natives know English.  

I started out with only fun as a motivation.  I like studying languages.  But over time, when the going gets rough and you don't know whether to use 'de' or 'à,' just enjoyment probably won't keep you to the grind.  I think that if you don't have a more specific goal, then you at least have to pretend that you have one (or two). Think of some place where they speak the language you're studying and fantasize about moving there.  Picture yourself strolling on the Champs-Champs-Elysée wearing a sporty, black beret.  Or having a yerba mate in a trendy outdoor cafe in Havana.  Or imagine that your job is being transferred to Naples and you're in charge of PR for your company.  You get the idea.

And even better, start stashing away that dinero and really move to the country of your dreams.  Hey, stranger things have happened.  :)