Language learning can sometimes feel like an uphill battle for both students and teachers. As an online educator, you’ve probably seen moments when your students hit language learning plateaus, lose motivation, or struggle to put what they’ve learned into practice.

After all, it’s hard to improve in a language if the only time students use it is during class. To help your students supplement their learning beyond your lessons, here are six suggestions you can offer to strengthen their skills. These suggestions cover all four key areas of language learning: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

1) Make Friends in the Target Language

One of the fastest ways to improve in any language is through conversation. Encourage your students to make friends who speak the target language, whether through local language exchange meetups, online communities, or language exchange apps designed to connect learners with native speakers. By building these genuine connections, students can also gain cultural insights that can’t be learned from a classroom.

Even short interactions can make a huge difference. Chatting casually with a friend over coffee, messaging online, or sharing hobbies helps students use the language in real-life contexts. For more adventurous learners, taking a vacation to a country where the language is spoken can provide a powerful boost to confidence and fluency.

2) Re-Watch Your Favorite Movies and Shows in the Target Language

Movies and shows are excellent tools for language learning, especially if students have already seen them and are familiar with the storyline and characters. Re-watching favourites in the target language allows learners to focus less on following the plot and more on absorbing new vocabulary, expressions, and accents.

Encourage students to use subtitles strategically. Beginners might start with subtitles in their native language. Intermediate learners can switch the subtitles to the target language. And advanced learners can turn off the subtitles and practice their listening. Over time, through watching movies and shows in the target language, students will pick up slang, cultural references, and the rhythm of natural conversation.

3) Talk to Yourself in the Target Language

Let’s admit it, we all talk to ourselves at times. Self-talk may feel a little unusual at first, but it’s a powerful speaking practice tool to use the target language. Encourage your students to describe what they’re doing out loud, narrate their day, or even practice dialogues as if they were talking to someone else. This builds fluency by training the brain to think in the target language rather than translating word by word.

The best part is that students don’t need a partner for this exercise and it can be done anytime they’re alone (it’s preferable not to do this in public). Whether cooking, doing chores, or just relaxing at home, practicing self-talk out loud in the target language helps learners reinforce their vocabulary and build speaking confidence.

4) Listen to Podcasts and Audiobooks in the Target Language

Listening is often the most challenging skill for language learners, but regular exposure makes it much easier. Podcasts and audiobooks are very accessible and excellent for listening practice because students can choose material that matches their current level and interest. For beginners, there are podcasts designed specifically for language learners, while more advanced students can enjoy regular podcasts on topics they already love.

Audiobooks, in particular, are great for strengthening listening comprehension. Beginner students can start with short stories for children, and then gradually move towards more advanced material. Because audiobooks and podcasts can be easily replayed and rewinded, learners get plenty of chances to practice until they can naturally begin to understand the language.

5) Write a Daily Journal in the Target Language

Writing daily helps reinforce new vocabulary and grammar in a practical way. Encourage your students to spend a few minutes each evening writing about their day. They can reflect on what they learned or record memorable events from the day. This consistent writing practice encourages students to think more deeply and express themselves in their target language.

Another benefit of daily journaling in a new language is vocabulary expansion. If students find themselves stuck or unable to express a thought, they can look up the missing words or phrases and build a vocabulary list. Over time, this personalized list will continue expanding and all the words and phrases are directly tied to the students’ real-life experiences.

6) Read Books and Consume Social Media in the Target Language

Reading exposes language learners to new vocabulary, sentence structures, and cultural references. For an accessible starting point, encourage your students to re-read books they’ve already enjoyed in their native language. Since they know the storyline and characters, they can concentrate on the words and phrases rather than trying to keep up with the plot.

Social media can also be a surprisingly powerful tool for language learning. Encourage students to follow creators, news pages, or hobby groups in the target language on platforms like Reddit, TikTok, or Instagram. Even changing the language settings on their phone or downloading apps from the target-language country creates mini moments of immersion throughout the day.

Do you have any other ideas on how to boost your students’ language learning outside of the classroom? Share them in the comments below!