Response to Preparing for Success

Quote: "Some learners are unable to go beyond, "I want to learn English." when learners lack the basic functional skills or knowledge necessary to articulate specific goals, the effectiveness of learner-centered instruction is reduced because learners are not self-directed. Instructors need to provide intensive support that will help learners first recognize and describe their needs so that they can then develop specific goals." (p.24)

Response: This quote was significant to me because it speaks of the lack of motivation that students have and the fact that they don't have direct and clear goals which to strive for. Wanting to simply learn English is a goal that is much too simple and fails to look at the bigger picture...that learning English could potentially lead to a better job, greater communication skills, etc. This is a problem that is reoccurring in adult education. Students need to have intrinsic motivation. As teachers we need to be able to work with them by outlining the areas in which they need help and how creating goals that will help make things better.