How to Pick a Great Online English Course

Online English courses come in all sizes and shapes. Some call themselves Business English courses. There are professional English courses and executive English courses. Then there are Skype English courses and Language exchange courses. Whatever the name is, when you pick an Online English course you are investing a lot of time and money. Hence, picking the right online English course is an important decision in the long run.

Here are some guidelines on how to pick an online English course that will help you become fluent in English speaking fast.

 

Do NOT pick an online English course that teaches Grammar everyday

 

Most traditional English courses still spend most of their time teaching grammar rules. While knowing some grammar is important, trying to master grammar without trying to speak in English is a complete waste of time. In fact, most English learners around the world have a good understanding of grammar rules. Lack of Grammar skills is not the reason why they are not fluent in English.

Think of how we learned our first language as children. Or think of how kids learn to speak English so fast? It is because they learn to speak English before learning any grammar. Over thinking grammar will only slow you down.

Always pick an online English course that makes you have conversations and practice speaking a lot. If it only teachers grammar rules, you will never learn to speak English fluently.

 

Pick an Online English course that is Conversational and Practical

 

Speaking English fluently is easy if you learn Conversational English. Improving Conversational English skills is all about practice. Just like dancing or biking, you have to get an intuitive feel of what is correct and what is incorrect when speaking English. This is why practicing one on one with a Native English speaker is really important.

If your online English tutor is a traditional teacher who over analyzes and corrects every mistake you make you will never have an uninterrupted conversation. This will slow your language learning process and make you frustrated.

So when you pick an online English course, pick a course that gives you a lot of Conversation practice, ideally with Native English speakers.

 

Avoid Online English Courses that only use software, audios and emails

 

Sometimes you come across online English courses that are completely software based or are email programs. These are very cheap and usually you’re your free trails to starts. However, these will only waste your time and effort and will never make you fluent in English.

Here’s why?

Robots or software programs cannot teach you to speak a language. You need human support. For example, the only way you learn correct pronunciation or accent is by interacting with native English speakers – by watching the shapes the mouth and lips make, and the position of the tongue, the pace they speak, how they stress on certain sounds etc. You can’t learn these from a software program.

Further, a critical part of becoming fluent in English is in gaining confidence in conversations. The more you are able to practice speaking, the more comfortable you will be to use new words, expand vocabulary, use idioms and slang and to speak like a native. The only way to develop this confidence is by real conversations with native speakers. You can’t develop confidence by just ready emails by a teacher or using language learning software.

So always invest in an online English course that teaches Real English, using Real human teachers.