Latest trends in language learning
Monday, 17th August 2009
The use of the computers and the internet as a means of learning and practising languages has increased significantly in recent years.
Mobile phones, mp3 players and other hand-held gadgets are also becoming increasingly popular as tools for learning languages.
Language tutors can offer lessons online using Skype and similar programs. These enable learners to study without leaving the comfort of their own homes at times that suit them, and often costs less than hiring a local tutor. Such arrangements can be made directly, or via websites that bring tutors and learners together, and charge a small fee for the service. Such sites enable learners to recommend tutors, which helps learners decide which tutors to choose. I haven’t come across any sites where tutors can do the same for students, but the technology is there.
Some language schools offer online lessons and other materials which their students can access before, during and/or after their courses (as Cactus has done with its Language Minis). These offer students the opportunity to learn the language outside the classroom, and enable language schools to keep in touch with their students.
Many people are learning languages using online lessons, most of which are available for free, but there are charges for some of them. The quality of online lessons varies greatly – some are professionally put together and of high quality, others may be the work of enthusiastic individuals and their quality is not necessarily as good.
Language learners can also practise their languages online with other learners and/or with native speakers. There are many websites where you can find language exchange partners who are want to practise your language in exchange for helping you with their language. If you speak a major world language such as English, you’ll have no problem finding such partners.
There has been a significant increase in the number of online resources that can help language learners in their studies, including radio and TV stations, newspapers and magazines, and other sites which contain material in many different languages. This is very useful as the more exposure you get to languages the better.
There are increasing numbers of applications and other tools for learning languages on mobile phones and portable media players. Some language courses are designed for such devices, others can be used on them. If your language course includes CDs for example, you can convert the recordings into mp3s and transfer them to your phone or mp3 player.
Tags: language course, course, language, languages, tailor-made, italian, learning, german, french, spanish, english
Posted by Simon Ager under Attitudes to Language Learning, Making Progress,
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