There are many reasons and motivations behind why people start learning a new language. Perhaps you’re moving abroad and want to speak some of the local language, or you have a language requirement for a degree you’re seeking. These types of incentives to learn fall under the category of extrinsic motivation because they come from factors outside of yourself. Meanwhile, intrinsic motivations are motivations driven by your own interests, like learning a language to be closer to your heritage. According to our experts (and numerous studies), praise actually fosters intrinsic motivation in students. So why is this important for the learning process?