Within the field of language learning, the typical model is the division made between
integrative and instrumental motivation (Gardner & Lambert, 1972). If a person learns a
language primarily for a purpose like getting a job or fulfilling an academic requirement,
s/he is affected by instrumental motivation. In other words, instrumental motivation
Some researchers believe that integrative motivation is essential for successful second
language learning. Graham (1984) made a distinction between integrative and
assimilative motivation. Integrative motivation is defined as the desire to learn L2 to
communicate with the members of the second language society and find out about its
culture. It does not necessarily refer to the direct contact with L2 group while in
assimilative motivation learners wish to lose themselves in the target language and
become an indistinguishable member of that speech community. What is important is that
the two orientations are not mutually exclusive. Some learners learn better if they are
integratively oriented while others are more successful if they are instrumentally
motivated and some learn better if they take the advantage of both orientations. In other
words, one may have both kinds of motivations: s/he may be instrumentally motivated to
pass a test or meet a requirement, but at the same time, s/he may love the culture of a
community and want to learn and participate in its culture. Brown (2007) illustrated the
relationship between the two dichotomies of instrumental/integrative and
intrinsic/extrinsic with the following table: