This article explores the possible intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors that community college students may bring with them into the classroom. It examines how these motivational factors affect students' learning inside and outside the community college classroom walls. The motivational factors such as mastery, self-determination, belongingness, and social responsibility that drive first language learners to achieve a level of advanced literacy is an important avenue of exploration. Such exploration helps develop an understanding of many of the problems related to developing highly literate community college students. By gaining a stronger understanding of what motivates our students, especially what motivates them outside of the classroom, both community college leaders and instructors may be better equipped to provide appropriate environmental and pedagogical opportunities for literacy learning. (Contains 3 tables.)