The 7 Best Online Courses to Learn English Quickly

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English is the most studied second language. Because so many people want to learn it, there are tons of English resources available. But it’s hard to know the best way to learn English. If you learn well with a structured plan and like to know exactly what to study next, an online English course is a good option for you. This article puts together some of the best English courses available. They’re all different, so there’s something that will fit with your learning style and language goals.

Best Overall Course

Try Gymglish

Best for Beginners

Try Lingoda English

Best Live classes

Try English Online

It’s no secret that English has become a vital language no matter where you live. Over 1.45 billion people speak it as a first or second language, making it the most spoken language in the world. One of the most important reasons people want to learn English is for job opportunities. Many international companies operate in English regardless of where they are located. Learning this language can help you get a job in almost any sector, including business, trade, science, and more.

Another important reason to learn English is to travel. It has become the default language of tourism and hospitality. I remember being on an English-speaking tour when I was traveling in Turkey and I was surprised that I was the only native English speaker on the tour. There were people from all over the world, but the language we had in common was English. So whether you plan to travel or look for new job opportunities, the English courses on this list can help you achieve your goals!

What Are The Best Courses To Learn English?

To find the best online English courses, I searched the internet to find some of the most reputable and popular options available. Then, I researched each course to see what it does well and who would benefit from taking it. I also read through past student reviews to see what people liked (and didn’t like) about each course. Below is a list of the final results. They are all high-quality options that will help you speak English quickly.

Here are the best online courses to learn English:

Gymglish is the best overall course for learning English because you practice all language skills in each lesson. Each day, you are emailed a lesson to your inbox which a convenient way to practice. Each lesson has an animated video that you watch and then answer grammar and vocabulary questions about it.

When you finish the lesson, you are given immediate feedback on your answers so you know exactly what is correct and incorrect. This makes the course unique because very few other apps and courses offer this kind of detailed correction.

They also use adaptive technology to tailor the lessons to your level and what you need to practice. This is my favorite aspect of the course – it’s personalized to your needs. You can try Gymglish for free for 7-days or read more about it in this Gymglish review.

Key Features

• Practice all language skills
• Daily lessons sent to your email
• AI technology adapts lessons to your level

Pricing

With Gymglish, you can also choose if you want to pay monthly, every 6, 12, 24, or 36 months. Depending on what length of time you choose, a Basic subscription costs $12.00-$43.00 per month, a Premium subscription costs $17.00-$65.00, and a Pro subscription costs $28.00-$56.00.

Lingoda is a platform that connects you with an experienced English teacher. You have the option to take 1-on-1 or group classes (less than 6 students) so you’ll always have the opportunity to speak in class. In fact, Lingoda encourages individual practice outside of lesson time in order to focus on interaction and speaking during class. This is perfect for beginners to quickly improve and not waste valuable class time.

Lingoda offers classes for absolute beginners (A1) through advanced (C1). There are also Business English classes available. With Lingoda’s free trial, you can try a free private lesson or up to three group classes for free. You can also read more about the platform in this Lingoda review.

Key Features

• Group classes or 1-on-1 classes available
• Standard curriculum that all teachers follow
• Certified language teachers

Pricing

Lingoda offers plans that let you take 4-40 classes per month. Group classes cost $59.00 per month for four classes, up to $399 per month for 40 classes. Private classes cost $139 per month for 4 classes, up to $799 per month for 40 classes. Lingoda has a 7-day free trial and you can try one private class or 3 group classes during this time.

British Council is a leading international standard for how English should be taught. Their English Online course offers group lessons or 1-on-1 lessons. It’s the best platform for live classes because they are available 24/7 so you can study on your schedule. The lessons focus on communication, and you speak in every class.

British Council offers different monthly plans depending on how many live classes you want to take. They offer a free level test so you can see what level you should study. You can also book a free trial lesson to see if this course is right for you.

Key Features

• Qualified British Council teachers
• Group classes or 1-on-1 options available
• Free trial lesson

Pricing

English online has 3 different plans available. The Silver Membership costs $61.00 per month and you get 5 class credits, the Gold plan costs $100.00 per month with 10 class credits, and the Platinum plan costs $123.00 per month and you get 15 class credits. You can also purchase a yearly plan for each level at a reduced monthly cost.

Coursera is a massive online learning platform that has courses for all types of skills. It’s a great way to learn English because there are over 8,000 English language courses available, so you can find something that fits your needs. Courses are designed by universities and other reputable institutions so you know are getting a quality course.

Each course has an extensive preview so you can learn exactly what it’s about and what you’ll study before you enroll. You can read past student reviews, enrollment options, and faqs. Some courses are available for free, and others let you audit the course (see the material, but no certificate). You can search through thousands of courses on the Coursera website or read more about the platform in this Coursera review.

Key Features

• Thousands of courses to choose from
• Courses created by reputable institutions
• Receive a certificate upon completion

Pricing

There are tons of options available on Coursera and each one has its own price. You can take some courses completely free. The prices of the paid courses depend on a variety of factors such as the length of the course, how many lessons are included, and which institution is offering it.

English Grammar Pro is a course on the SkillShare platform. Your teacher, Kallan, a USA native, teaches those pesky grammar topics to help you become fluid and conversational in English. I like that in addition to learning important skills like grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, he also teaches when to “break” the rules. This will help you sound more like a native speaker.

The English Grammar Pro course has over 100 video lessons. There is also a pdf of important learning material included, as well as 3 projects you will complete during the duration of the course. Over 16,000 students have signed up and you can read their reviews on the SkillShare website.

Key Features

• Covers levels A1-C1
• Hundreds of video lessons with additional pdf of practice materials
• Read past student reviews

Pricing

You can access the English Grammar Pro course through the SkillShare platform. It costs $32.00 per month if you pay as you go, or $168.00 for the year ($14.00 per month). You can also try SkillShare Premium for free with a 7-day trial.

EF English Live uses a 3-pronged approach to learning English. First, you take private classes with a qualified English tutor. You also sign up for small group classes with people from all over the world to practice speaking and conversation. Third, you have access to hundreds of interactive lessons that you can study on your own time. In my opinion, this blended learning approach is one of the most effective ways to learn and doesn’t waste class time on topics you can learn independently.

You can tailor the course to fit your needs by choosing how many private and group lessons you want to take each month. There are also different kinds of courses you can take, such as general English and business English, as well as TOEIC and TOEFL preparation courses. You can contact them on the website to design a course plan that fits your needs and receive a free quote.

Key Features

• Live private lessons and group classes
• Blended learning (live classes and independent study)
• Different types of courses like business English and test prep

Pricing

To find out how much EF English Live costs, you can contact them for a free quote on their website. The price depends on the type of course you choose and how frequently you want to take classes.

USA Learns

Best for Learning English for Free

USA Learns is a completely free website that helps adults learn English online. There are courses that focus on teaching general English language skills, and also special topics like Life Skills in English and even a USA Citizenship Course to help prepare students for the citizenship interview and exam.

There are hundreds of video lessons with practice activities. As the name of the site suggests, the courses teach American English and focus on daily life in the United States. You can access the courses 24/7 for free, and they recently developed an app to make learning easier. Try USA Learns for free at any time.

Key Features

• Video lessons with practice exercises
• USA citizenship course
• Completely free

Pricing

All courses and other resources on the USA Learns website are completely free and available to everyone.

Why You Should Take an Online Course To Learn English

Online courses are an excellent option for learning English if you enjoy a structured way to learn. It takes the guesswork out of what to study next by laying out a plan that’s easy to follow. They are also an easy way to learn English from the comfort of your home. Some require you to take classes at a specific time, but others are self-paced and are more flexible. Whatever your availability is, an online course can easily fit into a busy schedule.

How To Use Online Courses To Learn English

Using an online course to learn English is best used as part of a dedicated learning routine. You can set aside an hour a few times a week, or even every day if you have time, to take a lesson and study English. Continual practice is the key to developing skills that you’ll remember.

It’s also best to use an online course combined with other learning methods. For example, if the course is very focused on grammar, a language app might work well to teach you more extensive vocabulary. Or if the course is comprehensive, but you still have some questions, a book might be the best answer. You can check out other ways to study English in our English language apps guide and best books to learn English guide.

Best Online Courses To Learn English: Final Thoughts

Learning English can seem difficult, but if you find the right tool for learning, it makes it much easier. I hope this list can guide you to a course that’s right for you. Whether you want to focus on a specific skill or improve your overall level, you can find a course that’s right for you. But remember, courses are best used in conjunction with other learning methods There are a lot of different ways to learn English (link to how-to), so all you need to do is find the methods that work best for you!

Best Online Courses To Learn English: FAQ