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| E-Learning
advice +courses |
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Method
The term 'e-learning' (or electronic learning)
is used for any training that is computer
and not teacher based or it can be a blended
approach using both. The lessons can be
on-line via a website subscription or
by DVD/CD-rom but both methods need a
computer. Type e-learning + the language
you want to study into a search engine
and you will be confronted by thousands
of results promising you amazing progress
in no time at all.
But are they having you on or can
they really produce these results?
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First of all let's look at what
they teach you and how… In general they will
contain all or some of the following elements:
grammar explanation and exercises such as multi-choice
and gap-filling, reading comprehension with vocabulary
explanations and some sort of listening comprehension
so be prepared with a microphone and headphones.
They will also have tests at regular intervals
throughout testing the knowledge learnt in the
chapter. The most sophisticated solutions will
have voice recognition capabilities where you
can have great fun trying to get your pronunciation
to match the line that follows the graph of the
correct pronunciation, you just repeat until you
get it almost the same as the line!
So far so good but are they right for me and
how do I know which one to choose?
If you decide to learn with this method make sure
you can set aside about 30 minutes every other
day with no one around to distract you or you
will not maximize its potential. If you choose
the solution where you can repeat words and phrases
with a microphone you will only be able to speak
the words the computer decides so you will not
be able to just converse as you would with a person.
The grammar explanations can be either in your
native language or in the target language depending
on which one you choose also so if you are not
confident before you begin in the target language
this can be difficult to understand if you cannot
understand the explanation. This is why we would
not recommend e-learning for beginners but rather
pre-intermediate onwards when you already have
some knowledge.
Take into account also your objectives, if you
want to improve and learn grammar this is the
solution for you but if you want to also practice
speaking and to increase fluency this will not
meet your needs and you may want to choose blended
learning or lessons where you are interacting
with a human who corrects your individual mistakes.
To see our selection of CD-rom,
e-learning and other solutions click here
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