FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STUDENT AND A LEARNER?
A 'student' may or may not be interested in the subject that is being taught. This person may or may not be actively listening or striving to reach goals. They are also usually children who are told that they must learn and that they have no choice.
Whereas, a 'learner' is a person who is very involved in the learning process, and looks for opportunities to apply their knowledge. They are engaged with the study materials and ask questions. 'Learners' are usually adults who choose to learn because they have a genuine interest in the subject and are self-motivated.
It does not matter which one you were in the past. We have all been students and learners throughout our lives. What matters now is: who will you choose to be today?
I DON'T KNOW MY LEVEL OF ENGLISH.
SHOULD I TAKE A PROFICIENCY EXAM?
If you need to know your level for your C.V. or to participate in a program, we suggest that you take an official proficiency exam. If you are learning for fun or to speak with friends and family, we do not necessarily recommend them.
Proficiency exam results can be good at identifying your strengths and weaknesses within the language; they can also motivate you to learn more. However, not everyone excels at taking exams, and these exams take several hours to complete. To give you an idea, native English speakers with or without test anxiety need to train before taking an English proficiency exam.
These certifications can give you a sense of status or prestige, but unfortunately, many learners spend a lot time preparing for exams and not enough time working on real communication. So, it is important to think carefully and be clear about your language priorities.
WHEN WILL I BE FLUENT?
If you search for the word "fluent", you will find many different definitions. This makes it difficult to determine what it is and when you will reach it. However, many learners want to feel just as confident in English as they do their native language. Using this understanding of fluency, we propose this:
When you are able to significantly reduce the stress and fear of communicating and using the language, you might feel comfortable enough to call yourself "fluent".
We know that was not the answer you were looking for, but the truth is languages require regular maintenance because it is always changing. This is why getting comfortable with making mistakes now will help you improve your language skills more quickly.
There are many methods for reaching higher levels of fluency, but one consistent factor is that the learner must be engaged with the process. So, be sure to incorporate English in your everyday lifestyle, relax, and have fun!