How to become an Independent learner?

Based in my expirience, I´m sure the contact with  language is too important for don´t lose all we have learned. If there´s not practice, there´s not way for sutain esential rules or aplications. Keep learning is important, because we can´t learn everything about the language if we just remain with lessons at class.

Another option is try to see movies or series, or read books in the original language.  Listening and reading in this way is a great tool to learn even more, or just improve all we already know. 

I used to translate songs  by myself, with my dictionary, and that helped to improve vocabulary. I think the use of translators is not too bad, just when it´s used in the correct way. When we want to know a single word, or a little aplication, I think is a good idea, but for formal aplications is important that we try by ourselves and if there´s a doubt, we can consult grammar rules.

Another way is thinking in english. Any situation is good to hear words or phrases that anyone says, think about how it could be  said in English and I repeat it in our mind. I know it´s useful ,because I´ve applied it not just in English, also with another languages.
As a last point, talking with someone who is familiarized with the idiom, is the best method, because we can practice with everyday situations, so speaking became natural.