The internet is full of resources for learning a language: videos, podcasts, apps, newspapers, dictionaries. This is an opportunity, but also a trap: you can spend hours looking for the best method instead of learning. Here is how to get organised so that you really make progress, at your own pace.
Choose a few resources, and choose them well
Pick one resource per skill: one for listening (a podcast for learners), one for reading (a newspaper in easy language), one for vocabulary (flashcards). Keep them for at least a month before changing.
Plan your week
A simple schedule is enough: listening on Monday and Thursday, reading on Tuesday and Friday, writing on Wednesday, speaking at the weekend. Every day, a few minutes of spaced repetition for vocabulary. Write this plan down on paper: it is easier to follow.
The advantage of your own pace
Online, you can go over a lesson as many times as you need, slow down a video, turn the subtitles on and then off again. Nobody rushes you. This convenience is valuable for people who work, for parents, and for anyone who needs more time.
Do not forget speaking
The risk of learning alone in front of a screen is that you never speak. Read aloud, record yourself, look for language exchanges by video call. Our six tips for speaking will help you get started.
Be wary of promises
"Speak fluently in 30 days": no serious method can guarantee that. Learning a language takes time and regular practice. Also beware of subscriptions that are hard to cancel: many good-quality resources are free (public radio, libraries, educational channels).
Stay on course
Set yourself a concrete goal, such as a language exam or a trip, and check your progress every month. That is what keeps your motivation going over time.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really learn a language on your own online?
Yes, with a few well-chosen resources, a regular schedule and some speaking practice. The hardest part is keeping it up and speaking enough.
Which free resources can I use?
Foreign public radio and television, podcasts for learners, online libraries and free flashcard apps.
How many resources should I use at the same time?
One per skill is enough: listening, reading, vocabulary and speaking. Too many resources spread your effort too thin.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.