As the demand for multilingual skills grows, students are discovering that classroom lessons alone are not enough. ALSO READ: Being multilingual offers more career options By integrating daily reading, listening, speaking, and writing into their routines, learners can significantly improve their language proficiency and gain the confidence needed for academic and professional success. According to Alfredo Mufano Ferrari, a teacher of French at Action College in Remera, Kigali, students can significantly improve their language proficiency by weaving the language they are learning into everyday routines. “Improving a new language begins with weaving it into daily life. Simple habits like listening to beginner-friendly podcasts, watching films in the target language, reading short articles or books on topics they enjoy, and using language-exchange apps can make a remarkable difference,” he said. “Even small actions like changing the language settings on a phone or computer, help surround learners with the language. Many students struggle to balance learning with work or family responsibilities, but creating a language-rich environment for instance at home, using the French language, can help overcome these obstacles,” he added. ALSO READ: Being multilingual offers more career options Bright Kamuzinzi, a Mount Kenya University graduate who recently completed three months of French study at Action College in Remera, reflected on the progress she has made. “I first learned basic French in nursery and primary school, but I later realised I needed to refresh my skills. At the beginning, I knew some French, but not at a strong level, and I lacked confidence. Once I started learning again, I became more comfortable because I understood that mastering a language requires speaking it,” she noted. “The more you speak, the more vocabulary you gain and the more you learn from your mistakes,” she added. ALSO READ: The multilingual advantages of being Rwandan While studying in Germany, Rwandan student Esther Tuyishimire has come to recognise the value of multilingualism. She also explained the practical approaches she uses to build her German proficiency outside class. Knowing more than one language has become essential today. In my studies, I had to learn German because the courses were taught in the native language, and I even missed job opportunities due to language barriers,” said Tuyishimire. She also added that attending classes helps, but online resources and conversations with native speakers are just as important whereby language learning also never ends since there is always more to improve, and that constant growth is what makes it a lifelong process.” Looking at some youth who have put in efforts in learning particular languages and improving on their proficiency, it is seen that multilingualism has become essential because knowing more than one language opens academic, social, and career opportunities for students.
