the pros and cons of online language learning

Every part of our lives has been touched by technology, including learning languages. The use of technology in language learning has increased and has become popular over the years. 

Many online language platforms have been established, and many language schools now offer online courses alongside their classes. Speak Up London offers an excellent online course for students.

There are many benefits to learning a language online, but there are also disadvantages. 

Benefits

Learning online is very interactive. It may not replace classroom teaching and learning, but there are many educational resources online such as quizzes, videos, images, audio files, and even online worksheets to help you. 

Some recommended websites: 

Games4ESL

All Things Grammar

One Stop English

Speak Up London was also visited by BBC Learning English recently, where they showed students and staff all the amazing resources that are available on their platform. 

Online learning has created the opportunity for many students to be tutored in one-to-one, personalised classes. With personalised, one-to-one learning, the students are in control of their progress, but will have the support of a teacher. You can set the agenda – tell your teacher what you’d like to learn and how you prefer to learn, and they will be there to guide you, correct you and help you develop your English language skills. 

Online one-to-one learning is perfect for any student who feels intimidated or very shy learning in a traditional classroom and with your teacher, you will grow in confidence, speaking and writing in English in no time. 

The third benefit is that with online language learning, students can also decide how quickly they want to learn English. There is flexibility in learning online that a traditional class doesn’t have. Students can access online learning without travelling or leaving their home. This is important because learning a new language can be scary, challenging and even demotivating. Having English lessons online in an environment that students are comfortable in, can help to reduce worries and fears. 

Disadvantages

When you’re learning something new, whether it’s a new skill, hobby or language, it roughly takes 45 minutes of dedicated learning time every day to get better. 

Your motivation to learn must be high. Motivation plays a big role in long-term language development. In other words, because online learning is done without the support of a classroom, you need to continuously improve your skill by yourself. Many students want to improve their English language skills to prepare for IELTS exams or to get better jobs and opportunities in the future. 

If you need help staying motivated to continue learning, get a tutor who can keep classes engaging and fun! It’s very easy otherwise to miss a lesson or not do your homework as life gets in the way. 

There are many benefits of learning online, and it’s easier than ever for students to learn from the comfort of their homes. However, online learning depends on you; your personality and attitude towards learning will determine how beneficial online learning is. Luckily, at Speak Up London, we offer both in-person group classes and online learning!

Author: Uwais, a teacher at Speak Up London