The article deals with problems of development of the motivational sphere in teaching Russian as a foreign language in a medical university. The types of motivation in learning are considered. The results of a survey on the topic “Why does a physician need to know Russian?”, conducted among students of the Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi are presented, analyzed and summarized. Some directions, ways and methods of strengthening motivation in teaching RFL to future medical workers are proposed.