We want to reveal one of the biggest myths about learning a new language: that you will be able to learn a new language simply by taking language classes with a teacher.
Sorry to burst your bubble!
How you'll learn the new language or how quickly you'll make progress in that language, that's entirely up to you.
Not your language trainer. What does matter are your source and target languages, your motivation, your attitude, your contact with the foreign language.
Everything's in your hands; you are the pilot of your language course. Your teacher, they're just the co-pilot.
This is why it is so important to immerse yourself in the foreign language, even outside the classroom context.
We also call thisself-learning or self-directed learning.
Self-directed learning is a learning method where the student takes the initiative to learn.
As the student, you are always on the lookout for valuable learning activities to boost your language skills.
Think of reading the paper in English or putting on French radio. Watching a Netflix series in Spanish or searching for a buddy at the office with whom you can speak German.
You can choose how, when and where you immerse yourself in the language you are learning. And you will boost your language level, outside of the training hours and group sessions.
Your language teacher, in turn, is only there to support you and to provide you feedback during classes.
Of course, you're not entirely on your own either! At BLCC, we'll provide the necessary support in your self-directed learning journey.
We will do so through BLCC's challenges, a brand-new e-learning course where we challenge our students to seek out the foreign language they are learning.
Every week students will receive a new challenge to complete.
12 challenges for those at a lower level (A1-A2); 18 challenges for students at an intermediate level (B1-B2).
Read more about our e-learning platform or about the advantages of e-learning
Use 5 key sentences that you've learned during class in a real-life conversation
Give your colleague a compliment in French
This week, write all your e-mails in German without the use of DeepL or other online translation tools
Watch a movie in Dutch (with or without subtitles)
Follow a recipe in English and cook something delicious
Set the language setting of your devices (e.g. phone, laptop, etc.) to the target language
Find a buddy at the office with whom you can also speak French
...
Every week you will be served up a new challenge that will keep immersing you in the foreign language. Because it is the only way you will progress quickly!
What's more, the challenges are a perfect add-on to our blended learning approach. We blend your classical training course with your teacher with other - mostly online - learning tools such as online classes, webinars, e-learning, e-quizzes, and more.
All these elements together form your language learning mix.
In addition to the challenges, we also offer useful online tools and websites that you can use on a daily basis.
Are you an HR or L&D manager and organizing courses for blue-collar workers who do not have a laptop?
We also offer the challenges in hard copy poster format.
Ideal to display or put up in the workspace.
Contact us for more information.
Find out how here.