Language Learning Methods - Classes, Schools and Tutors

High schools and colleges have language courses and language programs for students, but there are opportunities out there for adults to take language classes. For instance, many colleges and universities offer individual courses, and you may be able to sign up for a few classes without being a full time student. Many local schools and libraries also have continuing education programs for adults which usually feature language classes. These aren't too expensive and the opportunity to work with other language learners of the same level as yourself may interest you. There are also language schools and personal tutors. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of language classes?

Advantages

Personal Attention. You can get personal attention from a teacher, professor or tutor in order to get any questions answered or problems cleared up immediately. You can't do this with any kind of self-study method.

Truly interactive. Many methods claim some interactivity, and some come close, but this is the real deal. You will hear the language and speak it with at least one other person, or several others in a class. This goes a long way toward understanding actual conversation and improving your pronunciation.

No time to be afraid. With a tutor or in a classroom, you won't have time to be afraid or timid, you will have to hear and speak as part of the course. Furthermore, you will probably be doing lots of reading and writing, further adding to the interactivity.

Disadvantages

Not your own schedule. Simply put - it's not convenient. You can study on your own when you want, but if you want to participate in a class environment, it has to be on their schedule, and at their location. Finding classes at the right time, at the right level for you, and at the right place can be difficult.

Can be expensive. Some classes, particularly colleges, are expensive. Language schools and personal tutors are almost always expensive.

May not always go at your pace. A big problem in a class situation is that the whole class has to move at a moderate pace for everyone. The teacher may move on to new subjects before you are ready, or it may be going too slow for you. This is not a problem if you have a tutor, who can go at exactly the pace you need or want, but the cost of a tutor is prohibitive for most people.

Hook up with tutors at Languagetutors.org , it's a free service. To search for language schools and courses try LanguageCourse.net or the world renowned Berlitz Language Schools who teach a wide variety of classes in a variety of formats. Their programs are very flexible to suit your needs and they have schools all over the world. You can also try immersion programs with Cactus Language , EF Education Language Schools , or First Step World.

For a little more information visit the Language Schools page, or the Language Vacations page, where you can learn a little about taking a language course abroad.

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"How many languages are there in the world? How about 5 billion! Each of us talks, listens, and thinks in his/her own special language that has been shaped by our culture, experiences, profession, personality, mores and attitudes. The chances of us meeting someone else who talks the exact same language is pretty remote."

- Author Unknown