subject: Foreign Language Course: Web Teaching Methods [print this page] Opportunities to learn a foreign language are plentiful, no matter where you live.
With growing international trade and business opportunities, learning a second language can really help people to get ahead in life.
Being bilingual is a necessity if you want to compete in the world marketplace or become successful in your non-native country.
This has spurred growing interest in learning foreign languages. They can be immensely useful, but before you decide on a class, you need to determine if it is going to address your needs.
Will the foreign language course cover the areas that you need in order to really understand and use the language? Whether you take a crash course, a second language course, or informal speaking class, you will need to find out if it covers everything that you need to know.
When evaluating a course, keep an eye out for the following features. If your course lacks these, move on to another.
First, a clear goal is necessary. Not only should you keep your objective clear in your own head, your course should have a well-stated and obvious goal of what it can teach you and how.
As an example, say you are looking into a class that says it is for beginners.
Foreign students, UK students, Asian students and students from around the world can benefit from this course, but would a student in the United Kingdom need the exact same course as a student migrating from an Asian country?
No. Students from different countries, especially when they have such diverse languages, need different types of instruction. They are not starting at the same place, so it will be hard to get to the same destination using the same method.
This is why a course description that is clear and understandable is so important, because without it you might end up taking a course that is bad for your specific situation.
The second thing that the course needs is a clear way to accomplish that goal.
If your course has the goal of getting you speaking the foreign language within six weeks, then it needs to outline the steps it will take to achieve that goal.
Will there be seminars, activities, extra information or resources for you to take advantage of?
Will you speak the foreign language exclusively for the entire six week program?
Asking these questions before you decide on a course can help you determine whether the course is right for you and if it will help you achieve your goal of learning a new language. It is also important to find a class that suits your personal learning style.
Some people learn best by taking clear-cut grammar courses with worksheets and activities. Others learn best by being immersed in their new language.
These are questions you need to answer for yourself and the only way you can do that is through understanding these two critical points up front before signing up for any kind of foreign language course.
