In my thesis I am going to attempt to analyze self and peer assessment, if they can function as motivational means in present day language learning and teaching. I am going to present a review of teacher and student competences. I am going to attempt to present the nature of assessment along with two alternative forms of assessment: self and peer assessment. In my thesis I am going to place more emphasis on self-assessment with the help of New English File and its Language Portfolio. Before this analysis I am going to enumerate some foreign examples of the use of the Language Portfolio and show the work of the Centre of Modern Languages in Graz.