5 Reasons to be Excited About Online Language Classes

Online language classes may not have been on your radar a year ago, but as people around the world slowly begin to return to pre-COVID activities and embrace a post-lockdown “new normal”, it’s becoming abundantly clear that many fields will forever be marked by the changes the pandemic has brought about.

For the education industry, that means an increasing shift toward online platforms—a change that has been met with mixed responses from those involved in receiving and delivering education. And while the jury is out on how effective online classes are for young learners, there’s no question that online learning and adult students were made for one another. 

The shift was happening long before the word “coronavirus” was on anybody’s tongue, but it’s now more evident than ever that online classes are the future of language learning; here are just a few of the reasons why that’s so, and why it’s a really good thing.  

Web conferencing classes fit into any schedule 

For adults already in the workforce, leveling up on skills can be one of the most important career moves out there, and yet according to LinkedIn’s 2018 Workplace Learning Report, “the #1 reason employees say they are not engaging in workplace learning is because they don't have the time.”

It makes sense; if you’re already putting in eight hour days—not to mention the time spent on your commute, meal prep and other work-related tasks—are you really going to give up your precious few post-work hours getting across town in rush hour traffic to sit at a desk and learn for a couple hours? For most adults, the answer to that is a big no, which is why live, web-based classes present an appealing solution: having 45 minutes to spare on your lunch break or after dinner suddenly becomes an opportunity to learn that skill—or language—you’ve always talked about learning. 

You can learn with native speakers from anywhere in the world 

The best (and fastest) way to learn a language is through conversation with a native speaker, but if, say, it’s French you want to learn and you’re based in rural Japan or small-town USA, that can be easier said than done.

Online classes make it possible to learn from real, live native speakers with the click of a button (which, let’s be real, is the only way you’re ever going to progress from recognizing a few words in your target language to actually being able to use it!). 

Adults are better with self-discipline

Anyone with kids at home knows that trying to get anyone under the age of 18 to sit in front of a computer for hours on end and actually stay interested in what’s going on is about as easy as learning a language from a textbook, and that’s because of how kids learn best: through constant stimulation and outwardly-imposed routine. Adults, however, are generally a lot better at self-discipline, and that makes us much better poised to benefit from independent study… especially when it’s delivered in bite-sized Zoom sessions! 

They’re designed for you to learn at your own pace 

Online language classes are typically delivered in very small groups or on a one-on-one basis, which means you can learn at the pace that’s right for you, focus on the things that stump you and gloss over the things that you’ve already mastered.

Ensure your language learning stays on track, no matter what 

While we’re optimistic that a repeat of the first half of 2020 isn’t ahead of us, the last few months have shown that life is unpredictable. Even the best laid plans can fall through, but online language classes are a safeguard against any challenges that might keep us at home in the future.