Are Online English Courses Worth the Investment?

Learning a language on your own can be challenging because you often need to hear certain words and sounds pronounced in order to learn them correctly, and because certain dialects and minor fluctuations in sound can change their entire meaning. This may make someone wonder if online English courses are worth the investment and if a person can be successful with them.

Choose Wisely

You can learn English online and virtually any other language with an online course if you choose the course carefully. Note their success rate with students and if they offer you a reasonable expectation for how long it will take to be conversational. Those virtual English courses that say you'll be speaking the language in 10 days may not be legitimate. You’ll want to be realistic and reasonable with your expectations. You also want to note their coursework and if they offer recordings of sounds with the bookwork so you can more readily learn proper English online.

Another consideration for those online English courses is if they require or allow you to dial in and have lessons on a regular basis. The best way to learn a language is to be immersed in that language and this means studying daily, or at least several times per week. If you see online courses that limit how often you can go through the course or those that don't include daily lessons you can use on your own time, this too may be a red flag.

Do Your Part

Of course you need to do your part in order to successfully learn English online. This means setting aside dedicated time to really listen to your lessons and repeating the sounds and words you hear. It also means surrounding yourself with the English language even after you've completed a part of your virtual English courses. Listen to tapes or a CD in the car, force yourself to speak English at every opportunity, and do the bookwork as well as the pronunciation exercises. This will mean learning the language more quickly and more efficiently so that your investment in these online courses will pay off.

Are Online English Classes Effective?

It's a fair question, since taking online English classes will mean an investment of your time and your money. You want to know if taking a class over the internet will be as effective as a class in person, and may want to consider what is required on your part to ensure you get the most out of it.

Curriculum and Materials

Would it surprise you to know that you typically use the same materials and follow the same curriculum when you take an English course on the internet, as you do when you take one in person? There is nothing "cheap" or second rate about the books and materials used and the instruction followed. There is also nothing overlooked or skimmed over when you take a class online; you'll cover all the lessons needed for you to really understand English as a second language so you're conversational and able to speak properly in a professional setting as well.

Flexible Pace

The flexible pace of English courses you take over the internet can actually make them more effective. You can review a certain lesson as many times as needed for you to really learn, or can move ahead when needed. If you're not tied to the schedule of a class you won't be rushed and you won't need to cover material you already understand, making online English classes more effective on a personal level than in-person classes.

Doing Your Part

One key to effective learning from an English course on the internet is doing your part because the lack of an instructor standing over you may mean that you slack off with studying. This is often why internet courses don't work for some, but if you treat it with the same diligence as you would a class you take in person, you'll be successful. Set aside a specific time for your English courses and be sure you take advantage of time with a live instructor to ensure you're on track. This will make your investment of time and money a successful one and your learning most effective.