Published 15/04/2015 In Blog
Throughout my life I have loved learning languages.
English and Spanish I learnt growing up with a mother from Ireland and a dad from Spain; French in the classroom, copying out conjugation tables; German at university and an Erasmus year in Cologne; and Chinese whilst living in Shanghai.
Each experience presented different learning challenges, but I am in no doubt that the best way to learn was being in the target country, learning from integrating with locals and communicating on a daily basis.
The average language classroom just cannot replicate that level of exposure and, to me, the classroom has always felt detached from what language is about: communicating with others and authentic exposure to language and culture.
However, a few years ago, wanting to keep up with my German and Chinese and not being able to move abroad again, I was faced with the dilemma of having to return to the classroom setting. Being a busy entrepreneur meant I couldn’t commit to going to a language academy twice a week, so I looked at online language courses.
At first, I was apprehensive. Nevertheless, a simple Google search revealed tutors advertising ‘learn a language online’. Eventually, after scrolling through a number of pages, I found a tutor who met my learning criteria!
I sent her a message and booked in for a class. The next morning, in the comfort of my own home, I sat at my computer with a bowl of my favourite cereal – so far so good! A message appeared on the screen from my tutor and my love of online language learning began. Now, not only am I teaching online, l am also learning Arabic and would tell anyone wanting to learn a language that online language courses are the way to go. Why? Well, here are three reasons:
The traditional language classroom is limited to exercise worksheets, and out-of-date, inauthentic text books. Online, however, the teacher is able to access numerous authentic multi-media sources that she shares with you at a click of a button. These authentic materials really allow the language to come to life and, with guidance from a good tutor, allow you to explore language according to your interests, rather than the prescribed, generic curriculums in text books.
Skype is all about communication, and as I said earlier, I believe, this is the best way to learn language. Unlike the classroom, you have direct access to the teacher and the interaction is constant. For me, in the traditional classroom, I was lucky if I spoke to the teacher for more than 30 seconds per lesson. As well as this, the one-to-one nature meant that we could study what I was interested in, rather than topics that the tutor felt would be suitable for the whole class.
As a busy entrepreneur, my time is limited, but with online language learning you get to fit the classes around your life, rather than the other way around. What is also amazing about online language learning is that the teacher is available outside of normal class hours and can send you work, which you can email back to them and they correct for the next lesson.
All in all, online language learning has been the perfect platform for me to continue to do something I love so dearly, which is to learn languages. It’s fun and more importantly is better at replicating real world and authentic use of language than the traditional language classroom. I love it and I’m sure you will, too.
So, whether it be English, Spanish, French or Chinese, why not give online language learning a try and sign up for a free trial at: https://www.keelyalgarlanguages.com/en/courses/free-trial
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