Motivation is the key to learning. We asked two successful Norwegians about their incentives for learning English. Perhaps their stories can help students reflect on their own experiences and language skills? Perhaps they might even inspire them to put in that extra effort.
You can download the text here
“Two bullets of vanilla ice-cream, please”
Brede Hangeland: 
The answer to this question may not be obvious to all students, as it is to me now. Personally, I enjoyed my English lessons at school, and despite the fact that my mother was an English teacher, it took me a long time to fully understand the importance of having good English skills.
My first encounters with the English language were endless repetitions of vocabulary and grammar, a giant puzzle that slowly fell into place. I remember how I made the leap and started talking, as best as I could, both in class at school, and on holiday abroad. You should try not to worry about possible mistakes, as nobody can learn English without making some. On the contrary, take pleasure in the laughable situations that sometimes occur. Like when a friend of mine ordered “two bullets of vanilla ice-cream, please”!
