Have a clear mission
Why do you want to learn another language? Do you want to be a fluent speaker or just able get by when you’re on holiday? How much progress do you want to make in one month, 6 months and a year from now? What is your budget? Do you allocate money for language classes? This page helps you to plan accordingly and find the resources you need on your journey to learning a new language.
Create a timeline
Write down a timeline and set some personal goals. A goal can be anything from 'be able to order a sandwich' to 'be able to perform a job interview'. The majority of language schools use the six levels from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to indicate a student's level. You can find the CEFR levels in the table below.
| A1 | Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. |
| A2 | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
| B1 | Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes &amb; ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. |
| B2 | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
| C1 | Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. |
| C2 | Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. |
Source: Wikipedia
WordLayer also uses the CEFR indicators to indicate the level of a module.
Look for the right resources
While you can widely expand your vocabulary with WordLayer you still need to practice grammar, listening, reading, writing and pronunciation. On the web you can find a lot of free courses as well as online language communities where you can meet teachers and students for language exchanges. We've made an overview of the best resources for language, see Grammar resources, Free Online Courses, Online Disctionaries and Language Communities.