The pie charts illustrate the result of the survey about the most popular reasons for learning foreign languages by language teachers in British. The first chart demonstrates the primary reasons for learning a new language, and the second one shows the proportion of teachers observed the transformation in the reasons.
Overall, the motivations for language learning show a polarization, heavily favoring immediate practical and recreational utilities over personal or social connections.
Looking first at the most common reasons suggested by language teachers, travel and business/work dominate the reason for learning foreign languages, cited by 33% and 26%, respectively, followed by buying property overseas, at 19%. The remaining motivations attract relatively little support, with personal development and social contact each contributing 7%, general interest 5% and having a foreign partner 3% (the least popular reasons).
However, this established hierarchy is unlike the recent changes in the teachers’ perception. Buying property overseas surpass travel to become the most common reason suggested by teachers, at 34%, the highest percentage in the survey. Business/work, however, experiences a downward trend; it is still one of the most popular reasons, at 19%. Social contact and ”no change” share the same proportion, at 15% per each, followed by 6% for general interest. in terms of the personal reasons like having foreign partner and personal development, each contributing 4% and travel become the least popular reasons according to teachers’ responses, just 3%.