Measuring the real impact of a language training programme is possible, as long as you have the right indicators. Laurent’s journey proves it: two years of training, a blended learning programme, and a progression from A2 to C1 that clearly shows what a well-designed solution can deliver.
An international role, held back by his English
Laurent is an application manager at a major energy group. In practice, he oversees the smooth running of several internal IT tools – some of them cloud-based – and manages their development over time. Day to day, he bridges the gap between team needs and technical, budgetary and scheduling constraints: he listens, analyses, turns requests into solutions, and makes sure everyone gets what they need.
It’s a cross-functional role, sitting at the intersection of technical teams and business units, where English quickly becomes essential for working with international software vendors, partners and clients.
In December 2022, Laurent began his 7Speaking programme at A2 level*. A level that allows for basic comprehension, but which quickly shows its limits when conversations become more complex or fast-paced.
What 24 months of training actually look like
The programme combines one-on-one sessions with a trainer and self-study digital learning activities on the 7Speaking platform.
Over the course of the programme, Laurent completed:
- Around 150 one-on-one sessions of 30 minutes each – nearly 75 hours of training with a trainer – focused on speaking, error correction and building fluency.
- Over 1,000 learning activities on the platform, covering assessment tests, news-based lessons, grammar and vocabulary exercises, and written expression tasks.
What these figures actually reflect is consistent practice over 447 days, with periods of high intensity (up to 15 learning activities per day) and more measured consolidation phases (2 to 4 activities per day). That regularity is what drove Laurent’s progress.
A2, B1, B2, C1: progress measured at every step
Laurent’s level was assessed continuously throughout the programme, skill by skill, through the various quizzes and assessment tests at the end of each learning activity.
Skill | Starting level | Final level |
Overall | A2 | C1+ (close to C2) |
Grammar | Identified weak area | Solid level |
Vocabulary | Limited | Broad, operational |
Reading comprehension | Functional on simple topics | Comfortable with complex content |
Listening comprehension | Partial | Fluent |
The three factors behind the results
Laurent’s journey points clearly to three key factors.
- Learning a language is, above all, a matter of habit. By training regularly (even for just a few minutes a day) Laurent made lasting progress. 447 days of consistent practice is far more effective than occasional long sessions
- Blended learning as a driver of effectiveness One-on-one sessions with a trainer and self-study activities complement each other naturally: the sessions focus on speaking, spontaneity and personalised feedback, while the platform consolidates grammar, builds vocabulary and develops reading comprehension through news-based lessons.
- Personalisation that makes a real difference. The programme adapts to the weak areas identified at the initial assessment. Grammar – noticeably weaker than other skills at the start – received targeted attention, allowing the overall language profile to develop in a balanced, solid way.
Replicating this journey in your organisation
Laurent’s journey shows that progression from A2 to C1 in 24 months is achievable – with the right learning mix, regular progress reviews and consistent practice. For training managers, it also means having real indicators to manage programmes, adjust things along the way, and highlight the progress made by employees to their line managers.
That’s exactly what MILA, our training management platform, makes possible: tracking attendance, completed sessions, finished learning activities, and the development of each employee’s level by skill. The objective: to turn language training into a traceable investment, directly linked to team performance.
Want to assess the real level of your employees and forecast their progress?
