LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTRE - GERMAN | ENGLISH | FRENCH | CHINESE | SPANISH | SWAHILI | KENYA SIGN LANG
Title: LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTRE - GERMAN | ENGLISH | FRENCH | CHINESE | SPANISH | SWAHILI | KENYA SIGN LANG
Online vs offline language schools: How to choose?
Online vs offline language schools: how are you supposed to choose? When you’re finally ready to commit to language classes, this decision is perhaps the hardest. Let’s talk about why.
In our increasingly globalized world, learning a new language is smart. It’ll boost your career, help you stand out in today’s competitive job market and even sharpen your brain. Plus, learning a new language helps you connect with other cultures and learn from other people.
We know there are plenty of ways to learn a new language. To narrow down your choices, you should first decide whether to go online or offline. But, what are the pros and cons of each? Which online language courses are the best? What aspects of the classes should you consider when choosing? In this article, we’ll break down everything about online vs offline language schools and compare class options to help you decide!
Online vs. offline language schools
Recent years have ushered in a new era of learning: online learning platforms. Thanks to technological progress, we can now pick up new skills from wherever we are. Additionally, our COVID-19 years showed us that e-learning can indeed be an effective way to adapt to changing circumstances when it comes to schooling. With our at-home workspaces becoming a permanent fixture in our homes, the question of online vs offline language schools is more of a reality than ever.
Online language schools
The best part about online study is that most online language schools give students the ability to choose classes with a customized fit for their schedule, goals and learning style. We can choose between private or group lessons, morning or afternoon classes and even ask the instructor to focus on a particular accent or skill. In short, online language schools offer us:
- Flexibility: Since teachers are spread across different time zones, students have high scheduling flexibility. You can schedule a class at nearly any time slot in a 24-hour period. Plus, as long as you’ve got a working device and internet connection, you can join in from anywhere. Study from home, at the library, on your commute or take your class from a local café.
- Personalized classes: Online schools usually do a better job of offering private or small-group lessons. These smaller online learning environments give you enough time to ask questions and get personalized feedback. This helps you make progress faster.
- Learning from native speakers: One of the best ways to nail correct grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary is to learn from a native speaker. Online language schools give you the chance to work with native-speaking teachers no matter where you live in the world. If your goal is to learn a particular accent, for example, online is your best option.
- Custom choices: With so many e-learning options out there, you can choose the school and classroom setting that best fit your learning style and goals.
- Cost-effectiveness: Because online classes do not require the expense of running a brick-and-mortar school campus, they are often more affordable than in-person learning.
Though online is fantastic, there are some obstacles we should consider:
- Technical issues: Technology can fail. So, when you’re learning online, you might need to reschedule a lesson or deal with annoying technical difficulties like a dropped WiFi signal or a time lag in the audio.
- Distractions: E-learning can lead to many distractions (social media addicts, beware). Discipline is key!
- Lack of in-person interaction: Online learning eliminates the physical in-person interaction with teachers and classmates. This might make it harder to pick up on cultural cues or even impact your motivation as a student.
Offline language schools
Let’s dive into the more traditional way of learning: in-person schooling. While e-learning removes most time and spatial constraints, offline lessons are tied to a specific location and regular schedule. Consistency can be difficult if you have a busy life. However, there are still some perks to conventional classes:
- Fewer distractions: Taking our studies to an in-person classroom can help us avoid many distractions. Classrooms are set up for teaching and studying, so you’re less likely to get sidetracked.
- Human interaction: Some students prefer face-to-face communication with their teachers because it fosters a more personal and interactive learning environment. Plus, attending in-person classes with other students helps you make friends with people who are just as passionate about the new language as you are. This builds a sense of community that can keep you motivated.
And the cons?
- Lack of flexibility: Offline learning is tied to a place and time. You’ll have to stick to a set schedule to keep progressing. If you have a hectic life, this might lead to dropping out and not achieving your goals.
- Less affordable: In-person language classes tend to be more expensive than online lessons. Private schools need to spend money to maintain a clean and safe learning environment. Those expenses are funded by student tuition. The fees can range from affordable to sky-high depending on how nice the school campus is.
- Less convenient: You’ll need to travel to the class location. Your commute can be a hassle and add to your costs. If you are learning on a budget, consider the price of public transportation or gas as part of your spending.
- Large groups: Offline schools often can get crowded. A local community college lecture hall can often seat 100 students or more. This might slow down your learning since students have different learning paces. Large class sizes mean the teacher has to run the class at an average speed, often leaving the fastest and slowest learners to fend for themselves.
