I currently teach at City Speakeasy, a language center for adult learners in New York City. The classes are intense, 10 weeks of two-hour sessions. Everyone coming into the program has a specific reason for learning French, such as an upcoming wedding to someone French, a promotion that would require French fluency or even just an upcoming trip to a French speaking country. I like to take the time to learn these motivating factors, because at the end of the semester it feels so great to know that the student is ready to impress their new in-laws with their French, that they will do just fine working every day in the language, or that they are going to have no problem ordering a pain chocolat and a coffee in a Parisian café on their trip.