| Diego G. is Venezuelan and works in sales for a | | | | course in the world can only work if you do it! On-line |
| company which has just been taken over by an | | | | courses offer flexibility in terms of when you study, but |
| American multinational. Diego knows that his | | | | you still need to dedicate a certain amount of time to |
| intermediate level grasp of the language is inadequate | | | | them. At beginner level we recommend at least three |
| for the international meetings he will now have to | | | | hours total study per week, and no less than three |
| attend, but he has no time to attend a regular course. | | | | sessions - more or less one every two days. 30 |
| He's out of the office three days in every five, and | | | | minutes per day would be even better. Less total time |
| when he is at his home base frequently works until | | | | or less regular sessions and you'll simply forget |
| late. And anyway, he did a course at the local | | | | everything you learn. As your level gets higher, you |
| language school once before, and didn't seem to learn | | | | can cut down to two hours per week if necessary, |
| much. | | | | though obviously your progress will slow down. And at |
| | | | advanced level, even an hour a week will allow you to |
| Marija K. is from Latvia. She's 17 and studies English at | | | | maintain your current proficiency. |
| school. She's hoping to go to university in Britain and | | | | But once you've decided on on-line study, how do you |
| needs to take the IELTS exam. Her general level of | | | | evaluate the different courses which are on offer? |
| English is good, but she needs to practise specifically | | | | First of all, check the credentials of the course |
| for the exam. There are no language schools in her | | | | providers. It should be possible to find out from the |
| town which run courses for IELTS, and she can't | | | | website who produced the course and their |
| afford private lessons. | | | | background in English Language Teaching. Have a look |
| Yoshi I. is the training manager of a medium-sized | | | | too at how well-produced the site is technically. If |
| Japanese company. The company has a large | | | | pages take hours to download, or if the exercises are |
| number of employees who need language training, but | | | | always in the same format, it's going to get boring. |
| profits are down and Yoshi's budget has been cut. He | | | | Secondly, look at the study units and see if they look |
| no longer has the funds to provide the number of | | | | valid and interesting. You should be able to do a free |
| English classes that he needs. | | | | level test, and then try a sample unit from the materials |
| Time, money and the non-availability of quality courses | | | | at the level which is right for you. Look carefully at the |
| targeted at the learner's specific needs - these are | | | | materials. What's the syllabus for the course which |
| probably the major obstacles to successfully finding | | | | you need to do? Is it clear what grammar and |
| and following a language training course. But the | | | | vocabulary are taught in each unit? Are the topics of |
| increase over the last few years of companies | | | | the dialogues and the reading passages interesting? |
| providing on-line English training is starting to solve | | | | The materials should also be systematic - it should be |
| those problems. Why are so many learners now | | | | easy to see where the new language is taught for the |
| starting to turn to on-line courses? | | | | first time, and then find a series of exercises to |
| - Price : with a potential market of the entire world and | | | | practise it. And it should be easy to find explanations |
| vastly reduced overheads, training organisations can | | | | of grammar and vocabulary if you don't understand. |
| offer on-line courses far more cheaply than traditional | | | | Next, see how much is offered for the price. How |
| classroom training. Companies or other organisations | | | | many units are there and how many hours study are |
| buying a large number of courses may also be | | | | they estimated to take? (Keep in mind that this will only |
| offered a discount on the standard price, making it an | | | | be a rough estimate - some people work through the |
| even cheaper option. | | | | materials much faster than others.) And for how long |
| - Flexibility : with an on-line course it's no longer | | | | will you be able to access the materials? Three |
| necessary to commit yourself to a 90' lesson twice a | | | | months? Six? Longer? |
| week with the risk of falling behind if you miss classes. | | | | Finally, look at what is offered other than the basic |
| You can study when and where you like. Fifteen | | | | course materials. In particular, is it possible to contact a |
| minutes left before the end of your lunch break? Log | | | | teacher? Even if the course is excellent, there may still |
| in and do an exercise. Away from home on a | | | | be something you don't understand and need to ask |
| business trip? Switch on your laptop and spend the | | | | about. If you want to improve your conversation or |
| evening on the course. Sunday afternoon the only time | | | | your writing, you should also choose a course which |
| you're free? No problem. | | | | builds in conversation lessons via telephone or VOIP |
| - Quality : with on-line courses you are no longer limited | | | | software, and which lets you send written work via |
| to a choice between the training organisations which | | | | E-mail for correction by a teacher. Check who those |
| happen to be based in your town. If the organisation | | | | teachers are. Again the website should tell you about |
| which has the course which is right for you is based in | | | | their background and qualifications in the field of |
| Paris, it doesn't matter if you are in Buenos Aires or in | | | | teaching English as a Foreign Language. |
| Kuala Lumpur - the course materials are on-line and | | | | So, if you're looking for a cost-effective, flexible way |
| your teacher is there for you via Skype or some other | | | | to improve your own English or that of your |
| VOIP software. | | | | employees, consider an on-line course. It might just be |
| Before you decide to do an on-line course, however, | | | | the solution to your problems! |
| think about your motivation and self-discipline. The best | | | | |