In recent years, online language learning has enjoyed rapidly increasing popularity, with more and more people choosing this modern approach over traditional classroom education. Among online courses, language instruction was perhaps the first area to capture the hearts of eager learners, especially adults. It’s no wonder, as aside from grammar, it is quite speech-focused, making it flexible enough to fit into anyone’s schedule once the mandatory parts are completed.
However, not everyone can learn online, and many people lose interest quickly after their initial enthusiasm. Who can benefit the most from this type of education? What pitfalls should we prepare for if we want to learn a language effectively online?
The Advantages of Online Language Learning
Convenient Scheduling
One of the biggest advantages of online language learning is its flexibility and convenience. Depending on whether you join a group or take individual lessons, the level of adaptability can vary. However, it is still much more convenient since you don’t have to allocate extra time for commuting. Individual lessons can be tailored to fit your schedule and pace. This is especially appealing to those with hectic schedules. And those who find it challenging to fit traditional courses into their lives. Online learning allows you to study early in the morning, late at night, or even during the day if that fits your schedule.
More Options
Not only is there a wide selection of instructors available for online language courses. There is also a wide range of platforms. Depending on the area of language skills you want to improve, you can choose from a variety of options. If you are just starting to learn a language or want to broaden your knowledge in a specific field, it is worth asking a language teacher for help.
Apps, video-sharing platforms, social media
When we want to expand our vocabulary, various language-learning apps can be ideal supplements. We can get to know words and phrases by fitting them into sentence structures. With the text-to-speech function, we can easily master pronunciation. For listening comprehension, there are hardly better solutions than song lyrics and foreign-language TV shows. On video-sharing platforms and social media, we can also find practical supplements, advice, and even downloadable practice exercises. However, it is worth keeping in mind that learning a language without a teacher is more recommended for advanced learners. In this case the primary goal is vocabulary expansion or maintaining their current level.
Online Learning is Flexible
Even online language schools are becoming increasingly flexible with language learning. If we don’t feel the “chemistry” with our instructor, we can switch to another teacher at any time. There are also numerous platforms that act as intermediaries for language teachers. Here we can freely book appointments in the teachers’ online calendars. This allows us to consult with teachers from various countries, including native speakers, and thus learn different dialects and accents. Moreover, communicating in a foreign language via online calls, which is already a “challenging environment,” can help improve our speaking skills more quickly. Anyone who has tried classroom instruction knows how shocking it was at first to reproduce what was heard from the tape recordings.
Individual or Group Lessons
Online language learning can be particularly beneficial for introverted people who find it difficult to learn in large groups. Individual learning or groups of 2-3 people can be ideal for them. It allows them to open up more and progress at their own pace. However, those who prefer group lessons do not have to miss out on the other advantages of online language learning, as online meeting platforms provide opportunities for group and pair work. Teachers can make the training just as interactive as if the group participants were sitting next to each other.
Minimal Equipment Requirements
Minimal equipment is required for online language learning. You only need a stable internet connection, a computer or smartphone, as well as a camera and headset. Nowadays, cameras and microphones are already built into most devices. If we still choose to buy separate ones for quality reasons, we can find plenty of options with good value for money. Although a separate room or office is not specifically an equipment item, we will definitely need one. This helps us to participate in lessons without interruptions.
No More Piles of Paper
With both teaching and completing tasks moving to the online space, can help us finally eliminate the accumulation of numerous paper worksheets. While summary tables for grammar sections are important, we can organize everything much more easily within a folder on our computer. There’s no need to print out tasks or carry them with us. All we need to do is to log in from a different location. Additionally, online tests and quizzes make the lessons much more interactive and enjoyable.
Maintaining Motivation is the Biggest Challenge in Online Language Learning
Perhaps the biggest pitfall of online language learning is maintaining motivation, but this can be true for any activity.
Here are a few tips on how to avoid losing motivation:
- Setting Goals: Establish specific, achievable goals related to language learning. This could be, for example, learning a particular vocabulary set or obtaining a language certificate. The more tangible, the better.
- Interesting Content: Find materials that are genuinely interesting to you, not just because of the language. For example, movies, books, podcasts, or online articles in the chosen language. By engaging with content that already interests you, your commitment and involvement in the learning process will be greater.
- Introducing Challenges and Rewards: Set short-term and long-term goals, creating challenges for yourself. For example, learning new words and using them in the next language lesson. No one needs to know about this; it can be your little secret. And if the teacher praises you for using the words correctly and having a more varied vocabulary, it will be an extra reward.
