Learning English - Guide to Grammar, Writing Rules, Speaking English skills

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Taking Free English Courses Online Enhances Your Language Learning

By: Tong Lin

The advantages of taking free English courses online are many. You can use these courses to complement the instruction you receive or start learning English on your own time. This is a great chance for many people to receive instruction in English when they are unable to leave their home country to live and study in an English-speaking one. When you take an online course, you don have to pay any tuition costs or make changes to your work schedule so that you can attend actual classes. As long as you have a computer and an Internet connection, you can take your lessons at any time of the day or night and set your own schedule.

Don be misled into thinking that by taking an online course you will be studying alone and will not be able to interact with English speakers or with others that are learning English just like you. The online sites have chat lines where you can talk with other students and get answers to any questions that you may have from native English speakers. Therefore you have the interaction you need and it is very similar to being immersed in the language because when you are online doing the lessons, you are immersed in English all the time.

The lessons are all introduced by dialogues that use the structure being explained in the lesson. You can listen to the dialogues being read as you read along with the print on the screen. The main problem that most language learners have is that they always try to translate the English into their own language first. This is perfectly normal for beginners and is the reason that one of the resources commonly found on an English language learning site is a dictionary into which you can type and word and have it translated into your own language. After you get used to the main vocabulary, you will gradually start to think in English and won have to use this resource very often.

All of the lessons contain all four components of learning English. You listen to the dialogues and read along with them. You read and listen to the instructions about each structure of grammar and then you get an opportunity to write the language when you complete the practice exercises.

The audio component of an online course allows you to pick and choose which topics you want to hear and read. There is a listening center in which you can hear various passages on a variety of topics. Reading books in English is an important part of learning the language, but if you are studying from home in your own country, you may have great difficulty finding these books. That is why the online sites have a literature library where you can choose to read some books, such as Aesop Fables, Junior Classics or folk tales from all over the world. You can also read essays in English from which you can gain valuable information on how to write your own essays, if you are studying for the TOFEL exam for English proficiency.

English as a Second Language - Is Online Learning Available?

By: Rob Parker

Many people are taking advantage of the immersion of the simple language skills approach of English as a second language courses in order to improve their basic English skills, and build a working vocabulary for work and school. Learning courses are available through many different avenues, including programs offered by educational facilities such as the University of Toronto. But what about for the person who, because of distance or time, cannot access the various campuses on which ESL courses are run?

Well, the good news for any person who wishes to build a working knowledge of English for conversing within an English speaking country is that thanks to the Internet, where you live is no longer a mitigating factor when it comes to leaning English, even through a program that might be “local” in conception.

Today, many English as a Second Language courses, including those endorsed, developed, and recognized by the University of Toronto, have their curriculum and learning goals, as well as course work, available online. This means that anyone with Internet access, anywhere in the world, can sign up for distance learning and the U of T’s ESL program.

Some things to consider before taking advantage of online learning

Remember, online learning might not be for everyone. Generally, taking a course over the Internet is a little bit pricier than taking the same course on campus. In addition, you must be sure that you are a self motivated individual, as you will not have a scheduled class to attend; you must schedule your work and your tests around your own time! You should also keep in mind that distance learning does not foster the relationship between instructor and student that may be advantageous in other cases.

On the other hand...

That being said, online learning certainly does offer some important advantages over classroom learning, not the least of which is the opportunity to create your own schedule. Here are some other positives to consider:

One on one contact with the instructor. Sometimes, you don’t need “face time” with an instructor in order to build rapport. With online learning, you can have one on one time whenever you have a question, and can keep track of the ideas generated through bulletin boards and saved messages.

Constantly available access, wherever there are Internet connections, mean that you will never be stuck without an access to help.

If you are interested in the University of Toronto’s ESL program, don’t let distance stand in your way. Instead, take advantage of the power of the Internet to take the course from the comfort of your own home.