15 Best Online Courses for Learning English 2021 – Online Course Report

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Learning any new language can be a tough task. But English can be especially tricky.

There are many rules, and many exceptions to those rules. In some cases, the order of words makes little sense to non-English speakers. Spelling, pronunciation, and understanding which syllable to emphasize are further obstacles to learning English.

Fortunately, there are many, many online English courses you can take to help you overcome the hurdles listed above.

Featured Programs

Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.

Our rankings include 15 of the best online English courses. In some cases, you’ll find that learning English online courses are completely free. In some instances, you have to pay to take a course.

Other classes might fall into the category of “online English courses with certificate.” Yet others are offered for college credit.

Additionally, the courses you can take on sites like Coursera and edX range from beginner to intermediate to advanced. This allows you to take the courses that best fit your current needs.

Bear in mind that the courses in our rankings represent just some of the best options out there. To arrive at our list of rankings, we created a three-part methodology to evaluate each course. Each course was given a score and then ranked according to their point total.

In the next section we’ll go over the different parts of our ranking system.

Methodology to Determine the Best Online Healthcare Management Courses

As noted above, the method we’ve used to create this list of best courses for learning English is based on three factors. Those three factors are:

  • Affordability
  • Learning Level
  • Flexibility

It’s important that we’ve used three very different factors to generate our rankings. On the one hand, we can inform you about a course’s cost. This will help you with budgeting for your studies. On the other hand, we can also tell you about the learning level of the course – whether it’s for beginners, advanced learners, or somewhere in between.

Additionally, having the flexibility part gives you a better idea of what to expect from a course in terms of time commitment and workload. This is especially important if you have a lot of daily responsibilities. 

As you’ll see in our rankings, each course is scored on each of the three factors noted above. There is also a cumulative score that combines each of the three scores together. This enables you to evaluate each class on two separate measures. First, you can look at individual traits of the courses. And second, you can compare the courses to one another based on their overall score.

To give you more detail about our ranking method, let’s have a look at the three individual factors upon which we have ranked these courses.

Affordability

Each course in our ranking has been scored based on how expensive it is. As you can see below, the more expensive a course is, the less points it earns:

  • Free: 6 points
  • Under $100: 5 points
  • $101-$200: 4 points
  • $201-$300: 3 points
  • $301-$400: 2 points
  • $401 and above: 1 point

Since many students are most concerned about cost, we have used affordability as our primary ranking factor. It is worth more total points than the other two factors combined.

While cost is very important, it’s also very important not to focus only on how much a course costs. In other words, while free courses are great, there are also some excellent paid courses for your consideration.

But, ultimately, you have to take courses that you can afford. If you need to minimize your costs, there are many excellent free courses in our rankings. If you have a larger budget, there are good options for all budgets.

Learning Level

In addition to affordability, our rankings take the learning level of a course into account.

Learning level is a very important factor because you need to take courses that align with where you’re at in your studies of English. So, if you’re just beginning to learn English, taking a beginner course is the best option. But as you progress, intermediate and advanced courses will be better suited to helping you continue your learning.

Courses at each of these three learning levels can be very valuable to students. But for our rankings, we give more points to intermediate and advanced courses, as shown below:

  • Advanced: 3 points
  • Intermediate: 2 points
  • Beginner: 1 point

The rankings aren’t done this way because intermediate and advanced courses are better than beginner courses. Again, you have to take courses that align with your current level of learning.

However, intermediate and advanced courses tend to focus your studies on a single subject. Therefore, you engage in deeper and more focused learning. This type of learning could be more valuable to you in the long term.

Flexibility

Online learning is pretty flexible by its very nature. Some courses are more flexible than others, though.

For example, a self-paced course offers you the most flexibility. These courses are open-ended. You can finish them at whatever speed you need. This is helpful if you need more time to master the subject you’re studying.

In contrast, some courses are instructor-led. This usually means that there are specific due dates for assignments and exam dates as well. While you can still study when you like, you must do so within the framework of when assignments are due and tests will be given. This type of course is less flexible.

Scoring for this factor is as follows:

  • High flexibility: 2 points
  • Moderate flexibility: 1 point

Each course in our rankings offers moderate or high flexibility. Courses that were highly structured and inflexible were left out of the rankings.

With a better understanding of how we arrived at our rankings, it’s time to see which online courses for learning English are among the best available today.

Ranking the Best Online Courses for Learning English

#15: Writ 1011: Academic Writing

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This three-credit course is offered by Cornell University. It is a beginner course. The focus of the class is on helping new students and non-English speaking students to acquire improved writing skills.

This online course to learn English revolves around academic writing. This means that you’ll learn how to write things like research papers. It is not a course for informal or personal writings.

Over the course of six weeks, you’ll learn skills related to:

  • Improved grammar and vocabulary
  • Better organization of thoughts
  • Academic styles of writing

You will gain these skills by writing short papers. You will also revise short papers based on feedback from the instructor.

In addition to writing and revision exercises, there are other class assignments. You will also have frequent conferences with the instructor to get feedback.

Though this class won’t come up in a “learn English online free courses” search online, it is worthy of consideration if you intend to go to college.

Visit the course website.

Points: 3

Affordability: Approximately $4,725

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: Moderate flexibility. This course is completely online. It is an asynchronous format as well. It’s a short course too – just six weeks – which might help you fit it into your schedule. However, it is only offered in the summers.

#14: Engl 101: English Composition

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This beginner course is offered by the College of the Canyons. It is an undergraduate course that is worth three credits.

English 101 is a basic course in language arts. It offers an introduction to writing at the collegiate level. It also serves as an introduction to improved English reading skills.

You will explore different types of reading and writing, including:

  • Non-fiction texts
  • Academic readings
  • Expository essays
  • Persuasive essays

This course for learning English also focuses on helping you develop improved researching abilities. You’ll learn how to conduct academic research. You’ll also learn how to bring information from multiple sources together into a cohesive essay.

Visit the course website.

Points: 3

Affordability: Approximately $1,058.40

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: Moderate flexibility. This course is completely online. This gives you some flexibility for studying. However, there are set deadlines and due dates which limits your flexibility somewhat.

#13: Eng 122: English Composition II

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This is a beginner course. It builds off of what you learn in English Composition I. This particular course is offered by Colorado Community Colleges Online.

In this class, you will deepen your understanding of the reading and writing skills you learned in English Composition I. Specifically, you’ll learn how to:

  • Critically evaluate texts
  • Use research strategies
  • Write analytical, persuasive, and evaluative papers

This is a basic course that is required of most college majors. If you plan to go to college, the credits you earn in this class will most likely transfer to your school of choice. Check with your academic advisor first to make sure this course will count.

This online course for learning English is made up of five separate modules. These modules introduce you to different skills you’ll need for improved English reading and writing performance.

Visit the course website.

Points: 3

Affordability: Approximately $1,203.75

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: Moderate flexibility. This is an online course, so you get the flexibility of studying any time of day. However, there are specific assignment due dates that you have to meet to earn credit.

#12: Learn English: Intermediate Grammar Specialization

This specialization is offered by Coursera. It was developed by the University of California at Irvine.

A specialization includes multiple classes. In this case, there are four courses you must complete to finish the specialization. If you’re looking for online English courses with certificates, this specialization meets that criteria. You can get a certificate for each course in the specialization. You also get a certificate for completing the specialization sequence.

Topics of study include:

  • Perfect tenses
  • Adjectives and adjective clauses
  • English grammar

There is also a capstone project. This project will help you process the information you’ve learned. It also gives you a chance to revisit what you’ve learned and further develop your new English skills.

This is a fairly long course. To complete the specialization takes around five months.

Visit the course website.

Points: 6

Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.

Learning Level: Intermediate

Flexibility: High flexibility. Each course in the specialization is 100 percent online. You can start the course immediately upon enrollment. Each class is self-paced so you can take as long as you need to finish.

#11: Basic English 2: Pre-Intermediate

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This beginner English course is offered by FutureLearn. It is a basic course that covers essential topics in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in English.

For example, you’ll learn how to ask for directions in English. You’ll also gain the skills needed to talk about your daily routine and activities. Other topics include:

  • Describing your hometown and where you live
  • Talking about technology
  • Language for shopping

There is also a unit on learning language skills to prepare for studying in college.

You can try this course for free. However, it is $279.99 to join for a year. That price gets you access to all FutureLearn classes – not just this one.

Also included are articles, videos, quizzes, and other materials to help you learn English faster.

Visit the course website.

Points: 6

Affordability: $279.99

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. This is a self-paced course. It’s also a short course at just four weeks in length. The course is offered multiple times throughout the year to give you more flexibility.

#10: Learn English

This beginner course is actually a specialization on Coursera. The courses were developed by Tsinghua University.

The course was designed specifically for people learning English as a second language. You do not need any prior experience with English to take this class.

Some of the topics explored in this course include:

  • Conversational English
  • Reading and writing English
  • General academic English

The skills you gain in this class will help you speak English effectively. This includes in situations in school, work, and your personal life.

Likewise, this course will help you become a better listener of the English language. This is a critical skill to have for any type of spoken English communication.

Other topics include culture, manners, and speaking in a variety of daily situations.

Visit the course website.

Points: 8

Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. Each course in this specialization is self-paced. You can complete them as quickly or as slowly as you’d like. You can begin immediately upon enrollment. Due dates are flexible and can be changed as you see fit.

#9: Small Talk & Conversational Vocabulary

This introductory course was developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is offered online by Coursera.

If you have some English speaking skills but want to improve them, this is a good course to take. It is very short – about one hour to finish – so you can take it virtually any time according to your schedule.

As the title of the course indicates, you’ll work on English skills related to small talk and having conversations. This includes:

  • Professional speaking skills
  • English vocabulary

This course includes one video lecture. There are several readings to help you learn the material. There is also a practice exercise that allows you to put your learning to the test.

Visit the course website.

Points: 8

Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. This course is self-paced. It is also very short. You only need about an hour to finish it. This enables you to finish the course very quickly, even if you have a tight schedule.

#8: Building Your English Brain

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If you already have some English skills but you want to expand them, this beginner course from Udemy is a great option.

This class will help you learn how to think in English. This enables you to translate your native language into English much faster. As a result, your communications in English will sound and feel more natural.

Some of the topics you’ll explore in this class are:

  • How to form thoughts in English
  • Using new English vocabulary and phrases
  • Speaking about abstract ideas in English

Additionally, you’ll learn how to speak English more creatively. This allows you to speak more freely and rely less on set English phrases.

This course includes on-demand videos and downloadable resources to help you learn. In the videos, you can clearly see the instructor’s face and mouth so you can see the words and phrases being spoken, in addition to hearing them.

Visit the course website.

Points: 8

Affordability: $39.99

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. This is a self-paced course. You get lifetime access to course materials. The course is available on mobile, internet, and TV.

#7: Tricky American English Pronunciation

Part of what makes learning American English so difficult is the confusing pronunciation of many words. In this beginner course developed by the University of California at Irvine, you’ll practice some of the most confusing consonant and vowel sounds.

This course, which is available on Coursera, also focuses on things like:

  • Emphasizing the correct syllable
  • Changing the intonation of your voice as you speak
  • How to connect words and sounds for more natural-sounding English speaking

By learning these skills, you will be able to speak English more clearly. As a result, other people will be able to better understand what you are saying.

This course is specifically designed for English language learners. If you want, you can access the lectures and handouts for free. But to access the graded assignments and quizzes, you have to take the paid course.

Visit the course website.

Points: 8

Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. You can start this course at any time after you enroll. The course is self-paced. You can take as little or as much time as you need to finish it. All course activities are completely online for further flexibility.

#6: IELTS Academic Test Preparation

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This introductory course is offered by edX. It was developed by the University of Queensland.

The IELTS test is one of the most popular tests for students that want to go to college in an English-speaking country. By taking this course, you will be prepared to successfully pass the IELTS.

Upon enrollment, you get immediate access to lots of learning resources. This includes more than 80 hours of interactive practice materials. These materials cover the four basic skills of learning English:

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading
  • Writing

This free online course uses multimedia presentations to review important topics. You’ll learn test-taking skills as well as techniques for building confidence for test day.

Since this is a self-paced course, you can finish each section in order or only complete the sections you need most. 

Visit the course website.

Points: 9

Affordability: Free

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. This course is self-paced. You can work through the course materials as quickly or as slowly as you need. Due dates can be set and reset as needed as well.

#5: TOEFL® Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide

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This is a test prep course for the TOEFL test. It is offered online by edX. The course was developed by ETSx.

The purpose of this course is to help English learners improve their skills. With those improved skills, you will have a better chance at an improved score on the TOEFL.

You will be guided through each section of the test:

  • Reading
  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing

As part of your learning, you’ll explore archived questions from past TOEFL tests. Doing so will help you understand what sort of questions you might be asked.

This free online course uses videos, discussion boards, quizzes, and sample questions with explanations to help you learn. Additionally, you get access to free test prep resources as part of this class.

The TOEFL is the most widely-used English language assessment. This is a great preparatory course to build your English skills before your test date.

Visit the course website.

Points: 9

Affordability: Free

Learning Level: Beginner

Flexibility: High flexibility. This is a self-paced course. Set and reset deadlines as needed. You can begin the course immediately upon enrollment.

#4: Full English Course Advanced Level

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This advanced course from Udemy is ideal for English learners that have developed intermediate skills. The advanced nature of the course will help you continue your growth as an English language learner.

The focus of this course is on advanced English grammar. This includes:

  • Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous verbs
  • When to use adjectives ending in -ed and -ing
  • When to use relative clauses

To achieve these learning goals, you will do a lot of practice. Some practice exercises focus on vocabulary development. Others revolve around reading and listening. You’ll study pronunciations, translations, and spelling too.

This course includes video and audio-based learning materials. There are numerous articles, downloadable resources, and practice tests as well.

This online course for learning English is relatively short. It takes most students a few hours to complete. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the course out for several weeks, and if you don’t like it, you can get your money back.

Visit the course website.

Points: 10

Affordability: $49.99

Learning Level: Advanced

Flexibility: High flexibility. You get lifetime access to this course. You can access it any time of day or night. The course is available online and on TV as well.

#3: Phrasal Verbs

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This intermediate English course is offered by Alison. It focuses specifically on phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs can be difficult to learn. Yet they are important to understand if you are to become a fluent English speaker.

In this course, you will learn various things about phrasal verbs, including:

  • What is a phrasal verb?
  • What is the meaning of phrasal verbs?
  • How do you use phrasal verbs?

Learning these things about phrasal verbs will help you improve your English language skills. By the end of the course, you will have a greater ability to have conversations in English that make sense to native speakers.

This is a short class. Most students finish it in three hours or less. It is also available on smartphones and other mobile devices to improve accessibility and flexibility.

Visit the course website.

Points: 10

Affordability: Free

Learning Level: Intermediate

Flexibility: High flexibility. This course lets you work at your own pace. This means you can take as little or as much time as you need to finish. You can also access the course anytime.

#2: 6-Minute English

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This collection of 6-minute English courses is offered by the BBC. There are dozens and dozens of lessons that help you learn English through conversations.

Each course is completely free and offered online at any time. Since each course is so short, you can easily finish multiple courses in a single sitting.

Some of the topics you can study include:

  • Storytelling
  • Reading
  • Vocabulary

The lessons are structured like a radio show. You simply follow along and learn by listening to two native English speakers discuss different topics.

This free online course is especially helpful if you want to expand your English vocabulary and learn how to make complete sentences in English.

Visit the course website.

Points: 10

Affordability: Free

Learning Level: Intermediate

Flexibility: High flexibility. These courses are free. They are also self-paced. You can access them any time you like. You can take as long as you need to finish them as well.

#1: Massive Open Online English Course

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When you search “learn English online free courses,” you’re sure to find MOOEC.

This collection of free courses includes lessons on reading, writing, speaking, and listening. There is also a category of short courses that you can explore if you don’t have much time to study.

Many of the courses focus on a specific English concept. You study these concepts in the context of a real-life example. So, to study reading, you read passages related to plants and animals you might find in your backyard.

Other topics include:

  • Globalization
  • Basic paraphrasing
  • Listing tips
  • How to use phonemic charts

These free courses are self-directed. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons. There are dozens of lessons you can take part in to help develop your English skills.

Visit the course website.

Points: 10

Affordability: Free

Learning Level: Intermediate

Flexibility: High flexibility. Each course in the MOOEC collection is free. You can access lessons at any time. Lessons are self-paced, which gives you the flexibility you need to study when you have time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I learn English online?

There are a variety of ways to learn English online. One of the most popular options is to take an online English course.

The courses in our rankings represent some of the best online English courses currently available. Taking courses like these is budget-friendly. In many cases, the classes are free. Even the courses that aren’t free usually have a very small fee. This means that you or someone you know can learn English and do so without breaking the bank.

In many cases, these learning English online courses are self-paced. In other words, you can take as little or as much time as you need to work through the course content.

When you’re learning a new language, being able to work at your own pace is often quite helpful. For some people, learning English occurs quickly. But for others, it might take much longer to master the language.

In a self-paced course, there’s no pressure to finish your studies in a specific time frame. This allows you to focus on learning English and doing so at a speed that’s right for you.

These self-paced courses, which are found on sites like edX, Coursera, and others, are often developed by the faculty as well-known universities. This means that you can take online English courses that are created by experts in English that have many, many years of teaching experience.

For example, the Learn English: Intermediate Grammar Specialization in our rankings was developed by teachers at the University of California at Irvine. The five instructors have decades of teaching experience. They also have a wealth of experience teaching online. Between them, they have taught 22 online courses on Coursera. Their courses have been taken by millions of students. This should show you that courses like this are well-developed and well-received by students.

In many situations, you can take online English courses with certificates from sites like edX and Coursera. These certificates are usually completion certificates that you earn once you successfully finish the course. There is more information about online English courses with certificates in the next question and answer.

Another way to learn English online is to take college courses for credit. It might be tempting to stick to free or low-cost online English courses. But these courses typically do not count for college credit. This means you’ll likely have to spend more money for courses from accredited institutions.

However, if you are working towards a degree, taking online English courses for credit is a great idea. You might be able to use some or all of the courses you take in English to fulfill certain graduation requirements for your degree.

Likewise, there are many online English courses that focus on helping college students become more effective readers, speakers, and writers. For example, the Writ 1011: Academic Writing course in our rankings is offered online by Cornell University. 

This course is three credits and gives you the chance to improve your written vocabulary, grammar, organization, and style skills. Courses like this are ideal for college students that are learning English. It’s also a good option if you are a high schooler and need to brush up on your writing skills.

There are other types of online English courses worth considering as well. Massive Open Online Courses are offered by colleges and universities around the world. You might find an English course that’s offered as a MOOC that will help you develop the skills you need to further your English skills.

For example, the British Council has a number of MOOCs that teach English. These courses vary from teaching children English as a second language to exploring English as both a language and a culture. Likewise, there are options for studying English for the workplace and for exploring learning on college campuses in the United Kingdom.

Of course, you can also learn English online by using a number of popular smartphone apps. Babbel is one of the best-selling language apps in the world. It is highly reviewed and includes lessons in English for all levels of learners. You can even choose to learn live online with Babbel instructors.

Duolingo is another smartphone app that many people use to learn English. It presents learning English like a game. You complete exercises and earn points and rewards. You get personalized learning and grading of your performance is immediate, so you get valuable feedback upon finishing an exercise. Perhaps best of all, it’s free!

So, as you can see, there are lots and lots of options for learning English online. You simply have to find the methods that work best for your situation. The courses in our rankings are certainly a good place to start!

Are there any online English courses with certificate?

Yes. Sites like edX and Coursera offer certificates with their courses. These certificates must be purchased, even if the courses you take are free.

The majority of online English courses with certificates offer completion certificates. This means that you must successfully finish the class to be eligible to get the certificate. These certificates hold very little (if any) educational value. They are not diplomas or educational certificates. They won’t qualify you for a specific job, either.

What they do, though, is offer further proof of your efforts to learn English. So, while a completion certificate might not qualify you for a job, it might demonstrate to a potential employer that you are working on your English skills.

However, if you are taking online English courses with certificates for your own personal growth, a certificate can be a point of pride for you. Even if a certificate from an online English course doesn’t help you get your degree or get a better job, having it on your wall in a frame can remind you of your hard work and your successes in gaining new skills.

Can I learn English online with free courses?

Yes. Our rankings include many different free courses that will help you learn English. But the free courses in our rankings are only the beginning. There are hundreds more courses online that you can choose from.

If you Google “learning English online course,” you’ll find hundreds of thousands of search results. Not all of the courses that come up in the search will be worthy of your time. This is part of the reason why we developed this ranking – so that you can explore some of the best courses available for learning English.

Most free online English courses are completely free. But others might have fees associated with course “extras.”

For example, some courses are free to take. But if you want a certificate, you might have to pay a fee for the certificate.

As another example, a free course might have an ebook or a traditional textbook that is required. While the course itself might be free, you might have to pay for the book.

In many cases, these kinds of fees are fairly small. However, some textbooks can cost well over $100. The same goes with certificates. Depending on the course, you might have to pay $150 or more for a certificate that shows you successfully completed the class.

Before you pay any money for a course or course accessories, be sure you’ve evaluated whether those paid items are worth your hard-earned money. You can learn English online without paying any money at all. So spending your money on “extras” may or may not be something you need to do.

Is it hard to learn English online?

It can be extremely hard to learn English online. But it can be hard to learn English in person too! 

English, like any other language, has many complexities that take years to learn if you’re a non-native speaker. The rules of English are sometimes contradictory and might even seem arbitrary. And while all languages have idioms that are hard to master, English has far more. There are highly complex grammatical patterns that must be learned as well.

Despite its difficulties, it isn’t impossible to learn English online. Though it might feel like a losing battle, learning English just takes time, as does developing any new skill.

There are quite a few benefits of learning English online.

First, many online English courses are interactive. This means that you don’t just sit there passively learning different words and phrases. Instead, you might watch videos of native English speakers talking. The courses you take might have word games as well. Many online English courses come with a breadth of learning materials that help you along.

Second, you can learn at your own pace. Some in-person English courses are on a set schedule that may not work with your schedule. But learning online often comes with the freedom to study when you can or when you want. In the end, this could help make it easier for you to learn English.

Third, as our rankings demonstrate, there is a wealth of ways to learn English online. You can take beginner, intermediate, or advanced courses. You can Google “learn English online free courses” and select from a wide range of free classes. There are even online English courses with certificates.

Lastly, learning English online on sites like edX and Coursera gives you the chance to learn all the complex parts of English. Free and paid courses on these and other sites will help you with pronunciation and word meanings. You can also learn about rules of grammar and exceptions to those rules. Online courses also guide you in learning homophones and synonyms. You can even learn which syllables in words should be emphasized as you speak English.

So, is it hard to learn English online? Yes and no. English is hard to learn in any format. But there are plenty of things that can help you make it easier to master this language.

How long does it take to learn English?

The length of time it takes to learn English varies from one person to the next. For example, if you already speak some English, gaining new skills will take less time than it will for someone that doesn’t know any English at all.

Likewise, if you can speak English, learning to read it will be a simpler task than if you can’t speak it at all.

Another thing that will determine how long it takes to learn English is how much you study. If you can spend several hours a day learning to speak, read, and write English, you will become fluent fairly quickly. But if you can only practice a few hours a well, the process will take much more time.

The way you try to learn English can also influence how long it takes to become fluent. For example, if you take online courses like those in our rankings, the process could be sped up. After all, these courses are designed specifically for helping you learn the English language.

But if you try to learn English by watching movies in English or with English subtitles, it will take a lot longer to master English.

Of course, the more approaches you use to learn English, the better. Learning a new language is simpler if you immerse yourself in it. This might mean that you take a few “learning English online courses” from places like Coursera and edX in addition to watching movies, listening to music, and using language learning apps to immerse yourself in the language.

Another factor that will help determine how long it takes to learn English is simply personal differences. Some people are able to pick up English very quickly. For others, it takes a lot longer to become confident in reading, writing, and speaking.

The key is to tap into various resources for learning English. Then take your time learning it. If you try to rush, you’ll get frustrated and only make things harder on yourself! Remember that the more you practice and the more you expose yourself to English, the faster you’ll be able to learn it.

Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.

OCR Staff

February 2021

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