Online Courses for Learning Spoken English: Course Summaries

Private language schools and English language university departments present options for students looking to study spoken English online. Courses are offered in fixed-date and self-paced formats, at beginning, intermediate, advanced and business-professional levels.

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Online Spoken English Language Courses Overview

Online English language courses designed to strengthen the spoken English, writing and grammar skills of nonnative English speakers occur in several formats. Universities don't offer such courses as part of degree programs; instead, online and on-campus university courses in English language prepare students to successfully complete academic coursework in English. Several of these courses feature open enrollment for business professionals looking to improve their English skills.

Private language schools offer a variety of English language online courses; students may take fixed-date courses over a period of months, or self-paced courses, which allow students to complete coursework on their own schedule. Private language schools offer beginning, intermediate, advanced and business language courses that cover vocabulary building, conversation enhancement, reading comprehension, grammar study and writing practice. These schools may offer certificates of completion, which can be sent to universities or employers.

Technical Course Requirements

Students need access to a word processing program and the Internet, typically with browser capacity of Netscape 4.0-6.2, Internet Explorer 4.0-5.0 or higher. In some cases, students need to enable javascript and cookies on their Web browser. An active e-mail account is also a course requirement; students use e-mail accounts to communicate with teachers or fellow students. Generally, materials for assignments can be accessed online, thus purchasing printed textbooks is not a common requirement.

Courses with audio lectures may require RealPlayer, version five or higher, which can be downloaded free of charge. Some classes include video transcripts; in this case, students may need the latest Flash Player, which can be downloaded from Adobe.

List of Online English Language Courses

Beginning English Course

This course covers beginning language skills in reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Interactive online games and activities supplement audio, video or written lecture formats. Some courses also feature live conversation classes several times per day and offer students an opportunity to practice new language skills with teachers and other students. Assignments may include reading and writing exercises.

Intermediate English Course

This course is similarly designed to a beginner-level course, though it includes more complex grammar, vocabulary, reading, conversation and writing skills. An introduction to past and future verb tenses, correct usage of time expressions, phrasal verbs, reading newspapers, understanding uses for confusing verb pairs and conversation for daily matters may be included. Live conversation classes and at-home reading and writing assignments often function as critical aspects of such courses.

Advanced English Course

This course reviews language skills learned at the immediate level to aid students in comfortably using a variety of grammatical techniques in writing and conversation. Conversation-focused learning may include live online student debates, practice with idiomatic expressions or writing assignments that ask students to discuss worldly issues. This course level emphasizes helping students to control functional language and become confident communicators.

Beginning Academic English Composition Course

This type of university course doesn't lead to a degree; rather, it is designed to support undergraduate students, graduate students or business professionals who want to improve English skills for successful performance in academic and professional settings. Such courses emphasize recognition of correct grammatical structures, the ability to control structures in simple sentences, use of common academic terminology and developing a basic capacity to read academic texts. Courses may include e-mail or telephone conversations with an instructor, live online discussion with peers and essay assignments structured to help students express ideas in a concise manner.

Advanced Academic English Composition Course

This course is designed to develop students' capacities to write complex essays, including those that require academic research. Writing proficiency is refined to the point that a student can successfully function in university literature and composition courses. Students learn to edit their academic work, to successfully write essays under time constraints, to strengthen paraphrasing capacity, to use a variety of rhetorical styles and to demonstrate a strong understanding of English grammar. Assignments include complex essay-writing exercises and may include conversations via phone or e-mail with teachers or fellow students.

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