Written by Gabriela Estrada

Are you taking English or French classes, following the teacher's explanations and still feel that your progress is slower than you would like? Don't worry, this is common in the early levels and will continue to happen if you don't stop in time!

Actually, learning a new language is not just about attending the course, it is also necessary to practice outside of class, this complement is what really makes the difference! So cheer up and join me in reading our blog today, as it is aimed at independent learning as an effective complement to mastering the language you so badly want to start speaking. Let's get started!

What is autonomous learning and why is it key?

Autonomous learning means taking control of your progress, complementing what you see in classes with daily practice, whether online or face-to-face. 

Independent language learning is key because it allows students to acquire and consolidate the essential knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, semantics, etc., to build the linguistic base of the new language. Those students who practice independently advance much faster and develop greater fluency in the language than those who stick with what they did during class.

How do you know if you are fluent in the language?

Many students of English or French believe they have an intermediate level just because they have mastered vocabulary or have completed classroom activities correctly, but when they need to speak fluently outside the classroom, write without errors or understand a native speaker without subtitles, they find that they are still confused about the use of prefixes, suffixes, paraphrasing of ideas or use of common phrases that effectively simplify the answers. This means that learning English or French is not just about "understanding" single words; mastering any language requires developing the four key skills:

1. Reading 
2. Writing 
3. Listen to 
4. Speak to 

If you understand text in different formats and contexts, if you express yourself clearly and accurately when speaking with others, if you understand accents and rates of speech without difficulty, and if you communicate fluently and confidently in front of a group of native speakers or advanced bilinguals, then you can be considered proficient in the language.

If any of these skills represent a weak point when speaking, then it is because more work needs to be done on them autonomously.

How to improve your level of English or French at home?

After the language course day, it is important that the student reinforces at home the same content he/she has learned. This is achieved by creating a complementary and progressive routine that can include these activities:

• Listen to the language every day, watch movies, series, podcasts and videos in English or French. 

• Gradually reduce the use of subtitles in audiovisuals.

• Speak without fear, it is advisable to get together with a classmate and practice dialogues at the level of the language. You can also record your voice or use conversation applications to chat and make linguistic exchanges through text messages, voice messages or video calls.

• Read in English or French from news, blogs, books adapted to their level, etc. Start with simple texts and increase the difficulty little by little.

• Write daily. You can keep a notebook of important events of the day, social media posts or emails, this is very useful because it helps to improve your writing.

• Take advantage of technology with vocabulary apps, audio translators and interactive platforms for practice.

Learn English and French with Planeta Immiland Education

At Planeta Immiland Education, we offer English and French courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners. If you would like to learn more about our school's learning strategies, please contact us at and we will be happy to help you with whatever you need.

We are the first language academy for immigration purposes for Canada and our certified teachers can teach you to speak English for work, school, personal purposes or to immigrate to Canada. In addition, we are certified by Languages Canada, which guarantees a good language learning adapted to the Canadian reality. Visit the website: https://www.planeta-immiland-education.com/ for more information.

By supplementing your course with independent practice, you will advance faster and gain confidence in any situation - being responsible for your learning is the key to mastering any language! 

I hope this topic is to your liking. Thank you very much for reading, see you in the next blog!

With love,

Planeta Immiland Education