Which Online Language Courses to Choose?

Have you ever wanted to study a foreign language? Maybe you dropped the idea because it wasn’t convenient to join any traditional classes.

Fortunately, today, you can find a myriad of e-learning programs on the internet.

But which one to choose?

Check out the three types of online language courses and their pros and cons.

In today’s competitive, rapidly evolving world, the importance of language learning has never been greater.

There are many excellent reasons to learn a foreign language, from immigration to job advancement to cultural enrichment.

There was a time when conventional classroom programs were the only option.

Thanks to the internet and technology, things have vastly changed today.

Due to time constraints, limited class availability in your area, affordability, and convenience, e-learning has quickly emerged as an alternative for continuing language education.

Today, almost everything is available online.

You can access a wide range of software, mobile apps, devices, and websites for foreign languages.

More are being developed daily, thanks to the enormous online education market.

The most significant benefit of online language education is its flexibility and the freedom it provides to help students.

You can study from wherever you want as long as you can access a computer or smartphone. This could be your home, a cafeteria, an office, or even during a business trip.

Isn’t that wonderful?

Types of Online Language Courses

If you believe that language learning can only happen in a classroom and online courses are impractical because they lack physical presence, you can opt for face-to-face offline classes.

For the rest of the learners, no matter what stage of life you are in, there is always an app, website, or online tutor for learning foreign languages.

I have already covered both the benefits and drawbacks of online language learning.

Here, I will explain three broad types of online language courses and their unique advantages and difficulties.

All of these can help you get a clear picture of what to expect.

1. Face-To-Face Online Learning

Yes, it is feasible to have a live one-to-one interaction between a student and a foreign language teacher.

Synchronous learning environments use a virtual classroom where an instructor delivers instruction to one or more learners simultaneously via text, audio, and video.

You can speak with the trainer, as in an offline classroom, to clarify any questions and refresh your knowledge.

You can save significant time and money on travel.

All you need is an internet connection, a laptop or smartphone, and a camera and microphone-equipped headphones, which most people have these days.

You need desktop software or mobile apps that are easily accessible, such as Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco Webex. Most of these are free to use.

You should only pay your teacher for a one-to-one session.

There is no other expense. It is a practical and convenient way to learn languages at your own pace.

Advantages

(i) Learn from a Teacher

Teachers are the most indispensable part of our education system.

Face-to-face online sessions enable you to learn from a qualified teacher and clear your doubts. It is nearly as good as offline classes.

You can hire teachers only for the topics you are struggling with, rather than the entire syllabus.

(ii) Choose any foreign language or level

If you think learning Dutch is not viable because you cannot find a class in your city. Then, the one-to-one lesson can benefit you.

From popular languages to less spoken tongues, you can pick whatever you want.

You can also choose the desired level based on your current abilities.

If you have a specific area you want to focus on, or if you plan to study at your own pace with flexible timing, private online tutoring can help.

Disadvantages

(i) A little expensive

One of the principal disadvantages of individual tutoring is its cost. A tutor must spend roughly equal time and effort on online and offline classes.

Thus, studying online means paying tuition the same way you pay at any learning center.

It might cost slightly less than offline tutoring, but the overall difference won’t be significant.

It can be costly to hire a high-quality tutor with many years of experience. You must also still purchase books and pay exam fees.

(ii) Less interaction with other students.

People who like conventional systems may find learning a language online tedious.

A teacher can make offline interactions more engaging and productive by integrating language learning into class activities, events, games, contests, competitions, and projects.

Not all of these may be feasible online.

Besides, there are no other students with whom you can talk, practice, or interact.

You will have nobody other than an instructor sitting in another part of the world. All these create boredom in some people.

Verdict: 8/10

The face-to-face study is better than other online options because of the lively communications and synergies that are part of it.

Studying with an online tutor can boost efficiency and make you more confident about the target language.

As a result, you can learn properly and pass various language ability tests.

2. Self-Education through ready-made content

Autodidacticism is learning without having someone else to teach it to you.

You are the only one who will help yourself without a teacher or an educational institution’s supervision.

You can use resources such as books, PDFs, audio lessons, video tutorials, apps, and software.

You can search the internet for a massive supply of materials and information.

Most of these are available free online.

Advantages

(i) Study at your own pace

You can access a wide range of services and study materials anytime.

You can learn more about the topics and consult an infinite number of online resources.

Furthermore, you can choose the study schedule and time.

(ii) It is very affordable

Another reason self-teaching has become so popular is that it’s cheaper. Many free or very inexpensive resources are available.

While you can explore plenty of free content, to get some great ones, you have to spend some money.

Disadvantages

(i) Lack of teacher guidance

Without direction from mentors, students may find language learning tricky.

It is not an exaggeration to say that a superb teacher can help you accomplish your aim and make complete language acquisition a straightforward task.

The internet is full of distractions. Most people spend too much time on nonessential tasks during self-study.

Following a teacher can save significant time and improve productivity.

They will always be there to remind you of the goal and to support your learning process.

(ii) It requires discipline and motivation:

The foremost disadvantage of self-study is the lack of self-control, discipline, motivation, and time-management skills.

When you study with a teacher, you follow a timeline and progress accordingly.

This will help you achieve your language-learning goal.

In self-study, you will spend almost all the time on your own without someone physically guiding you.

Simply put, if you lack the required discipline, you won’t learn. The success ratio is abysmal.

Verdict: 5/10

Self-study, when done correctly, is a highly productive language-learning technique.

However, independent learning is a journey that demands significant commitment, time management, and self-discipline.

Let’s face it; most people don’t have it.

And that’s why it is one of the primary causes of language learning failure.

If you have all these qualities, you can leverage them, as they will play a vital role in achieving your objectives and delivering better results.

Otherwise, choose face-to-face classes — offline or online.

3. Web-based courses through apps

Among the various types of online language courses, web-based apps are the most popular and are often considered the default.

It is helpful for students with time constraints, busy schedules, or looking for quick knowledge at their own pace.

Web-based classes typically use an LMS (learning management system).

It includes online tools such as theoretical and explanatory sections, MCQs, Quizzes, recorded tutor material, listening exercises, assignments, and tests administered at regular intervals.

The initial certification syllabus includes everything you need to attain various language levels.

These offerings do not occur in real-time, and there is almost no interaction.

As a result, you need loads of discipline to follow the lessons regularly in a well-organized manner.

Advantages

(i) Convenience and Flexibility

Among the options, the course management system is the most convenient for language learning.

You need an app on your smartphone or software on your laptop. That’s it!

These programs are 100% online and use synchronous or asynchronous tools for student interaction.

(ii) A systematic approach and fun

Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Livemocha, Mondly, Busuu, Memrise, Rosetta Stone, Lingvist, and many more offer a step-by-step approach to learning several languages.

These apps divide the entire course into 100’s of small lessons, and it feels like you’re playing a game through flashcards, simple matching exercises, and MCQs.

It is a simple, mostly free, or cost-effective way to learn a language while you’re on the move, with an in-app purchase. It is easy to use and engaging.

Disadvantages

(i) Too many apps, and most are junk

I checked several of these apps some time ago. But there was one major problem—there were too many choices!

I have downloaded and tried over 25 apps and deleted most of them as they were often junk. Expecting to learn a language from these apps is overstating the case.

(ii) Difficult to become fluent

The language learning apps often promise you the world — but don’t expect to become fluent.

There is no magical app or LMS that will make you achieve eloquence in a matter of weeks or months.

Whether you’re tackling tones while studying the Chinese language or understanding the complex grammatical cases while learning the German language.

These apps and software will eventually only take your proficiency to the elementary or lower-intermediate level.

Beyond that, it is challenging to progress without regular class interaction and a skilled teacher’s guidance.

Verdict: 6/10

Learning a language with help from the smartphone in your pocket seems like an outstanding idea. However, these apps are far from perfect, so expecting to become fluent is overkill.

Unlike a teacher, it cannot tailor lessons to an individual’s progress, challenges, and interests.

You can develop at least beginner-level competency or survival conversation skills with frequent practice.

Conclusion

Online language courses, enabled by technological innovations, have become a practical alternative for students worldwide.

Sticking to a plan and maintaining discipline while learning a foreign language is essential to succeed.

Allocate some weekly hours to focus on your language-learning goal.

Learning a language with an app or by self-study should be a starting point, not the end.

Once you finish the elementary part, it might be a better idea to find an online teacher to practice with or enroll in a language school.

If you have a limited budget, you can combine self-learning and apps.

I recommend a hybrid or blended approach: face-to-face instruction with an online teacher, self-study using books, listening to audio lessons, and practicing with real people.

So, what do you think about online language courses?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section! You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Quora, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.