Why should I learn that?

“Why should we do that?”, “Why should I study?”, “Why should I learn English?”. Those are some common questions frustrated students often ask their equally frustrated teachers. And yet how many times do we give them a satisfying answer? An answer that will motivate them, make them keep going, and persuade them not to give up. And what is that answer?

• You need to study to have a better future.

Do they though? How many people have actually achieved great things without the grades to match their achievements? How many billionaires have begun their now successful companies as penniless students before even completing their studies? Is there a common definition of a better future for each one of our students? Do we mean that they will become happy or rich?

• You need to study so as not to be like me/us.

That is an answer many parents give to their children. However, we forget that children often see us as their role models, albeit secretly at times. So, by saying that they should not be like us we imply that we are not something worth imitating crumbling the image they had in their minds. We demythologize that image and we leave our children stranded in a ship in the middle of an ocean of decisions about what is right and wrong without a map or even a compass.

• You need to study to get into university/ to get this or that certificate.

In the Greek context at least, we have turned a piece of paper into the purpose for learning. As a result, we keep seeing our students pushed to reach language proficiency as young and fast as possible, and after they have managed to do that, they just stop using it and it falls into oblivion. We see young adults with an abundance of certificates not being able to utter a sentence or communicate even basic meanings. Moving out of the language learning sector, most high school graduates choose their future job based on the opinions of others, those being their friends, their parents, or anyone they deem important in their circle. They seem passionless and without any specific interests.

So, what should we, as teachers and/or parents, do?

What I propose is to give them a real purpose for learning; a tangible one. You should learn English because that is how you will understand what the songs you are singing say because that is you’ll get what’s funny in the movie or what that TikToker is so upset about. You need to study because you should learn to express your opinion, to defend your views and yourself against anyone who wishes you harm. You need to study and keep going because the world is a tough place but inspired, passionate, open-minded people can and will make it a better place. So, talk to your students, talk to them about their interests, involve them in yours, and discuss the sensitive issues, the difficult ones that show that life is not always bright but it can improve if you just try.