Thursday 7 November 2013

Find Out For Yourself How To Learn To Speak English Online

By Katrina Wheeler


For decades English has been a popular language to learn but nowadays instead of attending a language center or finding a private teacher, people are turning to the Web to learn to speak English online. All over the world people of all ages, from school children to retirees, are learning in increasing numbers. Amazingly it is estimated that at any one time there are over a billion people enrolled in programs of one kind or another.

Global business and finance has driven a large part of this growth. Companies need to communicate in a common language and so employees are required to be fluent in English. Some companies offer courses to staff or only hire those with language skills in place. Employees are often expected to deal with international customers or attend conferences abroad where this common language is the norm. Schoolchildren in some countries are required to learn a global language, and there has also been huge growth in the number of International students attending universities in the USA, UK or other English-speaking countries. It is also the preferred language of many MA or PhD programs.

There are many routes to study a language once online. Factors such as budget, the time they have available, preferred time of day for study and their current level of proficiency all influence the choices that a learner will make. Further considerations when making a choice are whether or not a certificate is required as evidence of attainment, and the learning style that suits a student best.

For the learner who likes a conventional language program there are lots of these available on the Web. These courses are arranged in a linear way and the student can follow step by step, starting with easier levels and progressing to harder ones. They have speech recognition software and will feedback on mistakes and correct answers instantly allowing the learner to make repeated attempts at pronouncing words, or sentence comprehension. These courses can be for either travelers or company employees depending on the kind of course signed up for.

For the student who prefers to work at their own pace and set their own goals there are worksheets available online. The major the advantage of these is that they can also be downloaded to be completed at a convenient time and place. Some courses are structured around modules which can be downloaded, with assignments that are submitted to a tutor for grading and feedback.

Interactive multimedia has also been put to good use for those learning a language online. Sometimes courses offer video tutorials or interactive video conferencing lessons live with teachers. Another means of interacting in English with either teachers or other students all over the world, is through social networking sites.

Fun activities such as games, puzzles and interactive quizzes abound online for people that prefer to study in an entertaining way. These can be used to support a conventional course, or be the main focus of study. These kinds of activities have been developed online for both children and adults.

The broad range of learning tools available on the internet means that there is something for everyone who wants to learn to speak English online. This is true regardless of complicated schedules, varying skill levels or different learning style. Furthermore, this very increase in modes of study will in turn increase the number of learners around the globe.




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