by Erin McGann
Updated on November 10, 2022
English evening classes: Why should you take them?
There is no question that improving your English makes it easier to find a job, progress in your career, or move abroad. However, what’s the best way to find an English evening class when your schedule is already very busy?
It’s the story you hear from your relatives and friends – she took English evening classes and then moved to London! But are evening English classes really enough to get you a job or make a big move possible? Yes and no. You need to commit to learning a language, and that means not only showing up to class but exposing yourself to the language in other ways, like watching English movies or TV, listening to English-language music and singing along, and listening to English radio programmes, podcasts and audiobooks.
It depends what your goals are. If you would like to be able to work in English, and communicate with colleagues and write professional emails, a Business English course will be best for you. Often these courses focus on the elements you will need in a work situation, with lots of vocabulary related to business terms. However, an overall English conversation class will improve your ability to discuss all sorts of topics, like history, culture, the natural world, and more. Conversation, or even just a regular English class, will spend more time on the details and nuances of the language.
5 positives of learning a language as part of a team
It is very tempting to head straight for the intensive course, cramming in as many hours as you can. This is effective, in the short term. Your brain will be swimming in English! But the danger here is immersing yourself in a language, and then stopping. Either because your intensive course is over or you burn out. In a month, loads of those English phrases will be gone, because you haven’t been practising. So look for a course that you can keep up with over a longer time period, whether that’s two or even three times a week.
The 16 best exercises to learn English
It used to be that there was no question, in-person lessons were the best way to learn a language. Technology, and our online skills, are much better now, and we’re used to interacting with people online in meaningful ways. Now, online learning is often more affordable and more flexible than in-person classes. Look for small class sizes and flexible schedules. Lingoda, for instance, offers group lessons with a maximum of five students, and teachers around the world, so you can find a class that fits with your schedule. It’s also much easier to fit in lessons around work and home life when you don’t have to commute to a school.
Why should you learn a language online during coronavirus?
You are spending all this time learning a language, it’s best to do it correctly right from the start. Finding a teacher that is a native speaker makes such a difference in your pronunciation and natural flow when speaking. They can tell you right away: ‘We don’t actually say it this way very often!’ so you avoid sounding like a language textbook when you talk. All Lingoda teachers are native speakers, so you can be sure you’re getting the real deal in either your English or Business English classes. This is another benefit of online learning – it’s harder to find a native English speaker for in-person classes if English is not the national language where you live.
So let’s get moving on your dream job in an international company or that big move abroad, and book your next Lingoda class right now!
