Would you like to travel and discover new cultures? During your studies, you have many opportunities to discover new places and experience adventures in other cultures. During the lecture-free period, you can take a break from everyday study life with homework, exams, presentations, etc. Of course, there is also the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the cultural environment during a semester abroad, internship or project. No matter which of these options you choose, basic language skills of a country can create authentic experiences. In addition, knowledge of a foreign language always looks good on a CV.
Learning a new language: Traditionally or with e-learning offers?
There are numerous ways to learn a language. In the traditional sense, learning a foreign language outside of schools and universities through books, language courses at adult education centers or private institutions is known. Although face-to-face contact with others is a huge advantage of these traditional methods, they are still inflexible, follow a rigid curriculum, and take place at set times. This is often difficult to achieve in addition to everyday study life, as it requires additional organizational effort and a high level of motivation. Learning a language is generally quite time-consuming, so e-learning offers could be a good alternative to traditional models.
The advantage of online courses is clearly the flexibility. You can access your online course at any time and pick up where you left off last time. If you want to repeat a topic again, you can easily see the respective lesson again. You buy most online courses once and then have lifetime access to them. This means you can access the course again and again on the go or at a later date. This allows you to adapt learning a foreign language to your individual needs and learning style.
In addition to the online courses, you can use applications such as Babbel, Linkq etc. to train vocabulary and grammar. The playful elements make apps interactive and thus increase motivation. In addition to the apps, audio books or podcasts can also contribute to vocabulary and pronunciation training. Audible, for example, offers a comprehensive range of foreign language audio recordings.
In principle, a combination of different e-learning offers, which can be supplemented individually with books or participation in courses at various educational institutions, is recommended. This depends on the learning type and the individual situation.
5 tips for learning foreign languages for students
Top online language courses from Udemy and Coursera
Below we have compiled the 10 online courses from Udemy and Coursera to learn or deepen your knowledge of various languages. What sets these two providers apart?
Online courses at Coursera
At Coursera, you can take various online courses from different universities around the globe to gain a competency. To get started, you sign up for a specialization. This can consist of several courses. After successfully completing the relevant courses and the associated practical project, the course participant receives a certificate that can be used as proof by potential employers and for professional networks such as XING. If you only want to complete one course within a specialization, you can interrupt your learning process at any time and cancel your subscription in the student dashboard after completing the course.
E-learning with Udemy
Udemy is the leading online platform for learners and educators worldwide. On Udemy, you purchase a course once and then have lifetime access to it. This means you can repeat the individual lessons at any time if necessary or repeat the course again at a later date. At the end of the online courses you will receive a certificate of completion of the knowledge you have acquired. Another advantage of this e-learning provider is the 30-day money-back guarantee that you receive when purchasing every course. The online courses on Udemy can be very expensive. So pay attention to Udemy's regular sales, where you can save up to 90%.
Top 10 online language courses for students
1.Improve your English
In this Coursera specialization, you can take your English language skills to the next level to achieve your professional goals. Learn the standards of business communication: writing emails, vocabulary in meetings and job interviews, giving presentations and building networks online. The specialization is suitable for beginners and lasts approximately 5 months, which can be arranged according to a flexible schedule.
2.Hablas Español? – Non. Then start now!
Spanish is spoken in many countries and areas around the world. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world after Mandarin and is becoming increasingly important. That's a good reason to acquire the basic knowledge of this beautiful language. You don't need any previous knowledge for Coursera's beginners course. You will learn the basic vocabulary of 1500 words, the stress and grammatical structures. The specialization lasts approximately 7 months and is designed in Spanish and English.
3. Chinese for beginners
China - Land of the Rising Sun - is not only important economically, but also because of its centuries-old culture. This Coursera course teaches both cultural and social aspects about China. The focus is also on training listening comprehension and speaking. Vocabulary on the topics of food, drink, everyday life, personal matters, health and Chinese idioms are also taught. The course lasts a total of 12 hours. No previous knowledge of Chinese is necessary. However, you should have knowledge of English in order to follow the course.
4. Swedish for academics
This Coursera online course is for students who want to train in writing academic texts in Swedish. In 16 hours, you will gain a comprehensive insight into everything from planning to the use of appropriate linguistic means to the development and writing of scientific texts. In addition to tips, there are also various writing tasks that the course participants correct among themselves. The course includes a total of 5 modules and does not have a certificate of completion.
5. Russian for beginners
In this beginner's course from Udemy, you'll learn how to spell the Russian alphabet. The focus of the course is on reading and writing Russian. You will also gain insights into the culture and mentality. In addition to an initial insight into Russian grammar, basic vocabulary on the topics of friends, family and leisure activities is taught. The course includes exercises, materials and tasks that train the acquired language skills.
6. Japanese – culture and language for beginners
You have always wanted to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and language. Then take your chance with this beginners course. You will learn the basics of Japanese language and culture such as greetings, farewells and introducing yourself. You will also practice natural and confident pronunciation of Japanese words and numbers. You will also gain insights into the Japanese mindset. No prior knowledge is necessary for this course.
7. Arabic: Learn characters
Markets with oriental spices, camel rides in the desert, the pyramids of the ancient pharaohs - Gain insights into the enchanted world of the Orient through Maro's Udemy language course. This Arabic course is suitable for anyone who wants to learn Arabic characters. It includes many exercises to learn and consolidate the Arabic letters. Reading and writing skills are also taught.
8. Bella Italia – Immerse yourself in the Italian language
Would you like to travel to beautiful Italy this year with its great cuisine and wonderful works of art? Then this Udemy course would be a good investment. You will be taught basic knowledge of the Italian language. This includes grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. After completing the beginners course you will be able to carry on a conversation in Italian. Although the course is in Italian with German subtitles, no previous knowledge is necessary. Rather, it serves an optimal learning effect. To convince yourself of the Udemy course, you can watch two demo lessons for free.
9. Parlez-vous français? French for (re-)beginners
A journey from Alsace to the Pyrenees – not only the French cuisine but also the landscape is worth a visit. You have no prior knowledge of French or have forgotten or suppressed everything from school. Then you can start over (again) with this Udemy online course. You will be taught the basics of French such as asking questions, verbs, vocabulary and grammar. There are also many practice tasks so that you can deepen the vocabulary you have learned.
10. Dutch for beginners
The Netherlands and Belgium are characterized not only by their beautiful coastal landscapes and tulip fields, but also by a fascinating language. We Germans partially understand this language and yet there are many aspects that appeal to many people. This beginner's course from Udemy will give you the skills to understand and formulate simple sentences. You'll learn to say numbers in Dutch, order drinks and a taxi, introduce yourself and much more. The course language is Dutch, which ensures a quick learning effect.
