If you’re used to studying in a formal classroom environment, making the leap to online learning can feel a little overwhelming – especially if you’ve never tried it before.
But did you know that there are big benefits to learning English online? In fact, a study by IBM showed that students learnt an amazing 5x more material than in a traditional, face-to-face class. Not only that, studies have proven that e-learning has helped more students to stay motivated and complete their course.
But there are some seriously surprising reasons to love online learning that you might not have thought of. From freedom to fashion choices to finance, keep reading to discover our Brighter English list of brilliant e-learning benefits.
1. Anytime, Anywhere
Do you prefer studying early in the morning or late at night? Whether you’re a morning lark or a night owl, there’s an online English course out there to suit you.
That’s because you can choose exactly when you want to study, which means no more pesky wake-up calls or restrictive timetables. You can learn when you feel at your most productive and awake.
What’s more, you can decide where you want to study. Whether that’s in the comfort of your own bedroom, a friend’s house or a cosy coffee shop, you’re in complete control of your learning location.
2. More Me-Time
If you wish you had a couple of extra hours a day to relax and do what you enjoy most, then online English classes could be the answer.
Because you can take them anytime, anywhere, you’re not wasting precious hours getting ready to go out, packing your school bag or travelling to and from your classroom. You can start and finish your lessons exactly where you want to be, and use all that extra time to catch up on your hobbies, binge your favourite series or simply enjoyed a well-deserved rest.
3. Get Comfy
Classrooms are great places to learn, but they’re not the most comfortable! If sitting on a hard, plastic chair for hours on end makes you more than a little fidgety, you’re not alone. The bad news is that discomfort can be distracting and negatively impact on your learning. So what can you do about it?
Simple! Join an online English class and enjoy lessons from the comfort of your own home. Settle into a squishy sofa, comfortable chair or snuggle up in bed for a cosy class experience. You can even enjoy a lovely cup of coffee while you learn.
Plus, there’s no dress-code, so smart clothes are optional. Feel free to be comfortable and casual – even if that means you stay in your pyjamas!
4. More for Your Money
If the comfort and convenience of online English classes aren’t enough to convince you, did you know that they’re a lot lighter on your wallet, too?
While English schools, colleges and universities have to pay a huge amount of money for things like rent, central heating, electricity and materials, your online tutor doesn’t. This means those savings get passed directly onto you, so you not only get the same great quality learning experience, you also get it at a great-value price.
5. More time to Shine
School-based classes can be crowded, which means that even the best teachers simply don’t have time to give all their students the attention they need. A great English class develops all four skills, so if you don’t get the opportunity to practise your speaking, it could be costing you valuable learning experience.
Online English classes, however, are not only typically smaller, you also have a direct line to the teacher through the messenger function. So, anytime you have a problem, you can quickly and easily attract the teacher’s attention and get the one-to-one help you need. And because you’re in a smaller class, you’ll have plenty of chances to communicate with your classmates and express your ideas.
6. Cleaner and Greener
Did you know that by taking an online English course, you’re not only learning smarter, you’re helping the environment too? A study by SEI found that by taking part in e-learning courses, students cut their CO2 emissions by a whopping 90%.
And that’s not all. According to the National Wildlife Foundation, around 60% of all school waste is paper, so by taking an online course, you’ll not only reduce your carbon emissions, you’ll be preventing deforestation, too.
Plus, switching to online classes is not just kinder to the planet, it’s cheaper. Think of all of the petrol and pennies you’ll save by avoiding that long commute!
If you’re thinking about making a positive change to your study habits this winter, why not take a look at our range of great value Brighter English courses? Our highly-experienced, friendly teachers are here to make sure you get the very most out of your learning experience. We not only provide a fun, engaging classroom environment, but our lessons are tailored to your exact needs and goals. And, with our small, personalised classes, you can be confident that you’ll get the time and attention you deserve.
We’d love to know what you think about online learning and which of our reasons you found the most surprising. Why not practice your English today and leave us a short message in the comments below?