Main Steps to Choose Outstanding English Courses that Meet Your Expectations and Achieve Your Progress

If you want to learn the English language or improve your level in it, the next decision is to search for an English course that suits your needs and budget. But how do you choose an English course from among the many options available?

How do you choose English courses suitable for your level and goals?

Learning English opens many doors for you in your personal, professional and academic life. Therefore, in this article, we provide you with some tips to help you choose English courses suitable for your level and goals.

The first step: Your goal in learning English

Before you start studying English courses, you must determine your goal in learning English. This will help you choose the appropriate courses that focus on what you want and help you measure your progress.

Your goal in learning English may be one or more of the following:
● Learn English for a general purpose; Such as: travel, communication with others, or self-education.
● Learn English for a special purpose; Such as: work, study, or professional skills.
● Develop specific English skills; Such as: reading, writing, speaking, or listening.
● Obtain an internationally recognized certificate in English; Such as: TOEFL or IELTS.

The second step: Your level of English

After you have determined your goal of learning the English language, you must test your level in the language. This helps you choose English courses that suit your level so that they are not too difficult or too easy for you.
You can take free tests online to measure your English level, such as:
● English language placement test from the British Council.
● Test your English from Cambridge.

These tests measure your English level based on the European Common Levels, an international language level classification system. These levels are:
● A1: Beginner
● A2: Advance Beginner
● B1: Medium
● B2: Advanced Intermediate
● C1: Advanced
● C2: Very advanced

Step Three: Different English Course Options

After you have measured your level of English, you can search for English courses through search engines to find English courses remotely (online) or in educational centers near you.
(You can now choose English courses that suit your budget, level, and goals in the most prestigious and famous universities in the world with YouApply services to choose the ideal language program)

There are different types of English courses you can choose from, depending on your goal, level, and the time and money you want to invest. Some of these types are:

General English courses

These courses aim to improve your level of all basic English skills, and cover general topics and real-life situations. It is suitable for those who want to learn English for a general purpose.

Private English courses

These courses aim to improve your level of English skills or topics, and cover specific areas; Such as: business, education, technology, medicine or law.

English courses for tests

This type of English course aims to prepare you for international tests in English, and covers the style, conditions, questions and strategies of these tests; Such as: IELTS, TOEFL, and other international English language tests.

Step Four: Comparison between different English courses

When you find potential English courses that you have chosen, here comes the role of comparing them in terms of the various factors that affect their quality and effectiveness. Some of these factors include:

Content and curriculum

The content and curriculum should be compatible with your purpose and level of English, and cover the skills and topics that interest you. They should also use modern and effective educational methods, and present the educational material in an interesting and diverse way.

The teacher and the student

The teacher must be qualified and experienced in teaching English, and must have certificates and experience to prove this. The number of students in each class should be appropriate to ensure interaction and communication with the teacher and student, and should not exceed 15 students in each class.

Costs and duration

Costs should be reasonable, commensurate with the quality and benefit of the course, and not be a burden on your budget. The duration must also be appropriate to achieve your goal in English. English courses usually take between 4 to 12 weeks.

Certificates and badges

Check if the course awards digital certificates or badges proving your completion of the course and your level of English. These certificates or badges may be useful to prove your English skills to universities, companies or various bodies.

The fifth step: Choose English courses that suit you

After you have compared different English course options, read comments and ratings from previous students to get an idea of ​​the quality of the course and how satisfied they were with it before enrolling in the course. You can also request a sample course or a free trial session to see if the course meets your expectations.

Distance English courses: benefits, challenges, and tips

In light of the technological development and digital transformation we are experiencing, learning English remotely has become an available and desirable option for many people.
Distance English courses are learning English online using devices such as a computer, phone, or tablet, without having to be in a specific place or at a specific time.
In the following lines, we will review with you some of the benefits, challenges, and tips for learning English remotely.

Benefits of studying English remotely

Some of the benefits you can get from learning English remotely are:

Flexibility

Learning English remotely enables you to choose the place, time and duration you want to learn English. You can learn English from your home or from another place where you feel comfortable, at any time you have the opportunity, and at a pace that suits your abilities and circumstances.

Costs

Learning English remotely saves you time and money. Instead of paying exorbitant fees for English courses in educational centers, or wasting your time and money on transportation, you can learn English online at reduced prices or even for free.

Choice

Learning English remotely gives you many options and opportunities to learn English in a way that suits you. You can choose from a wide range of educational resources and materials available online, covering different levels, skills and topics.

You can also choose from different forms and methods of learning English; Such as: recorded or live lessons, self-directed or guided courses, or individual or group learning.

Interaction

Learning English remotely allows you to interact with teachers and students from different countries and cultures. This helps you improve your English skills, especially speaking and listening.

Challenges of studying English remotely

Despite the benefits that you can get from online English courses, they also have challenges and difficulties that need to be overcome. Some of these challenges are:

Motivation

Learning English remotely requires you to be responsible for your learning. There is no one watching you or pressuring you to follow your lessons or do your homework. You may feel bored, fed up, or busy with other things.
Therefore, you must set yourself a plan and timetable for learning English, set measurable and achievable goals for yourself, and maintain your interest and enthusiasm.

Technology

Learning English online requires you to have a device with a good Internet connection, and to be able to use the programs and applications used in learning.
You may encounter some technical problems while learning; Such as: disconnection, poor sound, or delay in downloading.
Therefore, you must ensure the quality of your device and Internet connection, and learn how to solve simple technical problems that you may encounter.

Communication

Learning English remotely reduces your opportunity for real and direct communication with teachers and students. You may lose some important elements of communication; Such as: physical language, facial expressions, or tone of voice.
You may also face some difficulties in understanding the different accents and words used by teachers and students from different countries and cultures; Therefore, you must improve your skills in communicating online, and develop your ability to adapt to linguistic and cultural diversity.

Free English courses with accredited certificates

In the following lines, we offer you, dear reader, free English courses that provide accredited certificates.
Important note: English courses on the Coursera website. You can apply for the course and obtain the certificate for free from the (Financial aid available) section

English for Career Development course from Coursera

This course teaches you how to use English in the global job market. This course covers topics; Such as: writing a CV and motivational letters, conducting job interviews, and communicating in the work environment.
The English for Career Development course is offered by the University of Pennsylvania and takes approximately 40 hours to complete. You can get a free certificate from Coursera after successfully passing all the assessments. This certificate is useful for those who want to develop their English skills for professional purposes.

Smart English for Professionals course from Great Learning

The Smart English for Professionals course teaches you how to use English in different professional situations; Such as: negotiating, presenting, dealing with complaints, and communicating via email.
Provided by Great Learning Academy, it uses interactive methods and real-life cases to improve your English Taking approximately 10 hours to complete, you can receive a free certificate from Great Learning Academy after successfully completing all lectures and tests. This certificate is useful for those who wish to improve their level of English for general or private purposes.

English for Journalism course from Coursera

Teaching you how to use English in the field of journalism and media, covering topics; Such as: writing news, reports, and articles, editing and reviewing content, and communicating with sources and the public.
The English for Journalism course is offered by the University of Pennsylvania and takes about 20 hours to complete. You can get a free certificate from Coursera after successfully passing all the assessments. This certificate is useful for those who wish to develop their English skills for journalistic or media purposes.

English for Effective Business Writing course from Coursera

This course teaches you how to write letters, reports, brochures and emails in English in an effective and persuasive manner, and covers topics; Such as: planning, organizing, editing, and reviewing business writing.
This course (English for Effective Business Writing) is offered by the University of Hong Kong and takes approximately 5 weeks to complete. You can get a free certificate from Coursera after successfully passing all assessments.
This certificate is useful for those who want to develop their business writing skills in English.

English for Academic Study course from FutureLearn

The English for Academic Study course covers how to use English in academic studies; Such as: writing articles and research, and joining lectures and seminars.
This course is offered by the University of Redding and takes approximately 4 weeks to complete. You can get a free certificate from FutureLearn after successfully passing all assessments.
This certificate is useful for those who want to improve their level of English for study and academic purposes.