As a student advisor at VanWest, I encounter many students who initially struggle with English or find it harder to learn the language than others. Rodolfo is one of these students who initially had trouble getting into the learning rhythm, but today he’s very happy, progressing well, and using what he’s learned with his classmates. How did he do it?
I asked him to explain his best tips for improvement, and this is what Rodolfo shared with us:
“To immerse yourself in English, my first piece of advice is to start with your daily routine. By switching it to English, you’ll develop a solid habit of using the language. For example, setting your devices like your computer and phone to English will familiarize you with words you’ll use every day. Also, changing the content you consume on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube will help you adapt better to the language. Joining communities or groups focused on topics that interest you can also boost your learning.”
Make English a Part of Your Daily Routine
In addition to all these tools, writing down your ideas in English will help you improve your grammar and expression. Reading articles that interest you and your favorite book in English is also beneficial for expanding your vocabulary and improving your fluency. Expressing yourself in English, whether talking with friends or in everyday situations, will help you gain confidence in the language and overcome any fear of speaking it. In short, facing everyday situations in English can be a fun and essential challenge for improving your language skills.
Practice English Beyond Apps and Tools
ChatGPT:
It’s an excellent tool for improving vocabulary and grammar. You can have conversations and receive corrections as if you were talking to a friend. You can also ask for explanations about the differences between words, conjugations, and their use in different contexts, as well as exercises to reinforce your learning. In these exercises, it tells you if you did them correctly and explains them if you did them incorrectly. This allows you to understand your mistakes and avoid them next time. Use responsibly and without copying or translating entire texts or phrases.
Explore More
Praktika
This app helps you improve your pronunciation and grammar. Although some features require a subscription, the free features are also very useful for learning.
Loora
Similar to Praktika, Loora helps you improve your grammar and pronunciation. You can get detailed feedback on your mistakes and learn which areas you need to work on.
Duolingo and Promova
These apps are great for expanding your vocabulary by spending just 15 minutes a day learning new words.
Inglés.com
This simple website lets you see how words are used in everyday English, including their different meanings, conjugations, and verb tenses. It’s an excellent resource for expanding your vocabulary and can also serve as a useful English dictionary, with translations into your native language.
Listening to Podcasts
Listening to podcasts is an excellent way to improve your listening comprehension. Podcasts expose you to both informal and formal conversations, helping you expand your vocabulary and get used to hearing English in different contexts.
What I Learned About Practicing English Every Day
For me, improving my English was not about relying on one app or one study method. What helped most was finding different ways to bring English into my everyday life. Changing the language on my devices, listening to podcasts, reading, writing, speaking with friends, and using learning tools all gave me more opportunities to practise.
If you want to learn English in Canada, I think the same idea applies: use what you learn in class, and look for ways to keep practising outside your lessons. The more English became part of my normal routine, the more comfortable I became using it.
FAQ
Yes. We offer English-language programs at our Vancouver and Kelowna locations. Our current options include General English, English for Academic Purposes, electives, and other English courses designed for different study goals. General English focuses on reading, writing, listening, and speaking across eight language levels.
At our Kelowna location, we currently offer General English, English for Academic Purposes, English & Volunteer Experience, electives, One-to-One Lessons, and other English study options. Students searching for an English language school in Kelowna, BC can review the current program options and schedules on our English program pages.
Yes. We currently offer our English & Volunteer Experience program at our Kelowna location. Students combine Core English—either General English or English for Academic Purposes—with the English & Volunteer Experience elective. The program is available to students at Level 4 or above.
Yes. We offer English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at both our Vancouver and Kelowna locations. Our EAP courses develop academic English skills for students preparing to study in English-speaking post-secondary institutions. Current EAP levels include EAP 100 through EAP 400.
Our General English and English for Academic Purposes programs currently have start dates every Monday, or Tuesday when Monday is a holiday. Both programs have a minimum study length of two weeks. We recommend confirming availability before registration because course offerings and schedules can change.
If affordability is an important part of your search for an English language school in Canada, we recommend reviewing our published tuition and comparing lesson options and study length that work for you. We currently publish weekly tuition for 20-, 25-, and 30-lesson English programs at our Vancouver and Kelowna locations, with rates varying according to the number of weeks studied.
“Hola, me llamo Roger, nací en España pero llevo viviendo en Canadá casi 3 años y de pequeño me leí todos los libros de Harry Potter más de 6 veces.”
#VanWest
For more information about our Vocational College programs click here.
To learn more about other VanWest College ESL programs click here.
To contact us about anything else, click here.