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?

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