How to Actually Improve Your IB Language B Outside the Classroom

An honest, practical opinion piece

Introduction: Why “10 Minutes a Day” Isn’t Enough

I’m sure most Language B students have been told at some point to do “10 minutes of work a day” for their subject. I’m also sure that this either doesn’t happen or isn’t enough time to be genuinely useful.

Because of that, I’ve collected advice for those of us who do things like stare at a dictionary and silently pray before a writing task. This is about how to actually improve your Language B skills outside of class.

This won’t work perfectly for everyone — and that’s the point. Language learning only works when you understand how you learn and what you’re working towards.

Step One: Set Goals That Are Real (and Useful)

To build a system that’s stable but flexible, you need goals — both short-term and long-term.

Short-term goals might include:

• Learning unit vocabulary properly (not a Quizlet speedrun)
• Preparing phrases for an upcoming oral
• Practising a specific text type

Long-term goals could include:

• Improving accuracy with past tenses
• Sounding more natural in spoken responses
• Reducing reliance on memorised phrases

This makes language learning tangible and less overwhelming, which directly combats two of the biggest barriers students face: stress and avoidance.

Immersion Is the Fastest Way to Improve (Even Without Moving Countries)

The most effective way to learn a language is immersion. I personally picked up German far faster living in Germany than I ever did learning French in an English classroom.

Obviously, living abroad isn’t realistic for most Language B students — but you can still immerse yourself.

Try:

• Music, films, TV shows, news, and books in your target language
• Media from the culture, not just learner content
• Podcasts or YouTube videos made for native speakers

This builds vocabulary and cultural understanding, which is especially important for the oral. It may not feel like “work,” but it’s a powerful mix of rest and learning that pays off long-term.

Small steps also help:

• Label items in your room with sticky notes
• Change your phone language
• Follow social media accounts in your target language

Speak the Language (Yes, Even If You’re Bad at First)

If you’re in an international school, chances are you can find:

• A native speaker
• Another student learning the same language
• Someone willing to practise casually

If not, language exchange apps and platforms can help. Talking — or “yapping,” honestly — is essential. It forces you to form sentences in real time and exposes gaps you didn’t know existed.

Speaking badly is still speaking. And speaking is how fluency forms.

Use Technology (But Don’t Rely on It Alone)

If you learn well with tech, language platforms can help — as long as you use them intentionally.

Apps and courses can:

• Reinforce grammar patterns
• Improve pronunciation
• Introduce topic-specific vocabulary

Some tools will teach you phrases like “the carpet doesn’t talk,” but even that has value if you use it as a supplement rather than a replacement for real practice.

More structured online courses can also add cultural nuance and grammar depth that textbooks often miss.

Write Regularly (Even When You Don’t Feel Ready)

One habit that consistently improves Language B performance is writing regularly.

Ideas include:

• Keeping a short journal in your target language
• Writing entries in different text types (emails, articles, diary entries)
• Creating outlines instead of full responses when short on time

Over time, this builds confidence, improves grammar, and expands vocabulary naturally. It also reduces panic during exams because writing no longer feels unfamiliar.

Build a Schedule You’ll Actually Stick To

Consistency matters more than intensity.

A realistic approach:

• 20 minutes shortly after class
• 20 minutes before the next lesson or assessment

This maximises retention without eating up your entire day. When possible, focus on weaker areas — it’s uncomfortable, but improvement feels much more rewarding when you can clearly see progress.

Mistakes are also more memorable than perfection, so struggling isn’t a failure — it’s part of the process.

Extra Options (If You Have Access)

Some less accessible but very effective options include:

• Travelling to the country
• Language camps or immersion programmes
• One-on-one tutoring

Tutors can personalise feedback and connect mistakes to solutions in real time, which accelerates improvement dramatically.

Conclusion: Language Learning Is Built, Not Crammed

Improving in Language B doesn’t come from luck or talent. It comes from:

• Clear goals
• Immersion in language and culture
• Consistent practice
• Patience with yourself

If you integrate even a few of these strategies into your routine, language work becomes less painful and more rewarding. Progress may feel slow at first, but every small step builds toward fluency.

Be patient. Be persistent. And don’t underestimate how much progress you’re making just by showing up.