In today’s world, thanks to the internet, there are many ways to learn a new language – you can choose either self-study or guided courses. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Not sure which is better for you? Keep reading! In this article, I will talk about the differences between self-study and guided courses to help you decide.
What is Self-Study?
Self-study means learning on your own, without a teacher or a structured class. You decide what to learn, how to learn, and when to study. For example, if you want to learn a new language, you might read books, watch videos, join self-paced online courses or use apps by yourself.
Self-study is great for those who like flexibility, especially if they have busy lives. You can study anytime and anywhere. It also allows you to go at your own pace. For example, if you are studying English as a second language, you move quickly through easy grammar points like the present simple and spend more time on more difficult ones like the perfect tenses.
However, self-study can be hard if you don’t have self-discipline or you are not very organised. You need to stay motivated and plan your study time well. Without a teacher or classmates, it is easy to lose focus or give up. If you are someone who needs deadlines and structure, self-study might be a challenge.
Self-study can also be lonely. For example, when learning English, there is no teacher and fellow students to practise your speaking with. There is no instructor to give you feedback nor to give you tips on how you can improve your English.
What are Guided Courses?
Guided courses are classes where a teacher leads the way in a physical or virtual classroom. In guided courses, there is a plan for what you will learn each day or week. You follow a schedule and complete tasks, such as assignments or homework.
Guided courses are helpful because you get support from a teacher and other students. If you have questions, you can ask your instructor. If you need help, the teacher can give you advice. Guided courses also keep you on track. The structure helps you stay organised and motivated.
For example, if you are learning how to explain your symptoms to your doctor in English, your teacher will teach you the language needed for that situation, you can then practise with your teacher and other students. Afterwards, the teacher will give you feedback so that you are clear on what you need to improve on. This kind of support can help you learn faster and avoid mistakes.
Comparing Self-Study and Guided Courses
Flexibility:
Self-study is more flexible. You can learn at any time, and you don’t need to follow a strict schedule. Guided courses, on the other hand, often have fixed times for classes or deadlines for homework or assignments.
Support:
In self-study, you are on your own. You have to find answers to your questions yourself. Guided courses give you support from teachers and classmates. This can be very useful when you get stuck or need advice. Self-study can be lonely whereas in guided courses, you can share your learning experiences with other students as well as making friends and building a network.
Motivation:
Staying motivated can be tough with self-study. It is easy to lose interest or delay your study time. Guided courses can keep you motivated because there are deadlines and other students who are learning with you.
Cost:
Self-study can be cheaper or even free, depending on the resources you use. Guided courses often cost money because you are paying for the teacher’s time and materials.
Which One Should You Choose?
Which one of the two methods is better depends entirely on you. If you are a person who likes freedom and can stay motivated on your own, self-study might be perfect for you. But if you prefer having a teacher to guide you, or you like learning with others, guided courses might be better. Guided courses can even help you advance your English quicker while it is more difficult to measure your progress through self-study.
You can also use both methods. For example, in class (guided course), you might learn new vocabulary related to tennis and then use self-study like reading books, newspaper articles and even listening to a commentary describing a tennis match to go deeper. Combining both can give you the best of both worlds.
In the end, learning is a personal journey. Whether you choose self-study or guided courses, or both, the most important thing is to enjoy the process and keep going!