Marla Sanchez: Learning languages is a “crucial step for professional and academic growth”
By Gabriela Sarmiento
Marla, a student at the Faculty of Communication (FCOM) of the University of Havana, is a language student with experience in using the Internet for this purpose.
She shared with our Foundation the advantages and challenges of online language learning, as well as valuable tips for those interested in this teaching method.
She decided to learn English from scratch because it is «extremely important in both professional and academic settings.» According to her, unlike traditional methods, «online courses are accessible to everyone, more affordable than in-person classes, and I feel more connected to the language.»
Marla believes that a good online language course should be engaging, not just instructional, turning the learning process into an interactive experience.
During her English learning journey, she has used several platforms and apps. On this topic, Malra says, «I think Duolingo is overrated. Todaii English is great for practicing listening and reading comprehension. Tandem, meanwhile, is a language exchange platform where I improve my speaking thanks to the native teachers who lead the classes.»
She points out that online courses include modules, lessons and exercises with videos, audio, texts and interactive games, providing a relaxed and ideal environment to increase the learner’s confidence during the learning process. One of the main advantages of these courses is «time flexibility: not being tied to a fixed schedule.»
She finds it very useful and interesting to «exchange with people from different cultures and share knowledge. I teach you my language in exchange for you teaching me yours.»
«Tandem and HelloTalk are pioneering platforms in this regard,» she adds.
During her journey, apps for learning English were essential because «they’re more accessible and let you have fun while learning. You can use them anywhere, making learning constant.»
However, Marla noticed that many apps lack well-developed exercises for speaking practice. To address this, she often turned to additional materials like books and websites to supplement her learning.
On studying constantly from home, she says: «More is not always better. What works for me is to dedicate short periods of time so I don’t get tired or demotivated. I always study 30 minutes a day after class and 15 minutes on weekends in the morning.»
In this regard, she admits that the biggest challenge she faced was «procrastination: you need willpower not to switch from studying English to scrolling through IG.» Her strategy to overcome this was to block distracting apps to focus solely on studying.
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These strategies paid off, as she tells us: «I love the language and I have never lost my motivation. My progress has been quite good: I would rate myself a 7 out of 10 because I am strict with myself. I’ve had the opportunity to travel abroad and use the language fluently in real-life situations.»
For those interested in learning a language online, Marla recommends «trying it out: it’s a convenient and personalized method where you control your own schedule.»
For those who already have experience with online courses, she advises not to focus on just one aspect of the language. Since many platforms focus on a single skill, it is best to use a variety of materials and resources.
According to Marla, learning this new language has had a significant impact on her personal and professional life: «It has allowed me to broaden my world view, meet new people, discuss with them and, above all, learn about their cultures,» she says.
However, she acknowledges that «not everyone learns the same way. What is easy for me may not be for others, and some may need the structure and rigor of a language academy.» That’s why Marla believes that online courses will not completely replace face-to-face language training.
