English Lessons for Adults Can Open Up Many New and Exciting Opportunities
You’re never too old to learn English! As the most widely spoken language in the world, English can be an invaluable asset. If you didn’t learn it as a child, you can do it now as an adult. In this digital age, it’s never been easier to find English lessons online—as long as you know where to look.
How Do I Learn a Language as an Adult?
Learning a foreign language as an adult can be tricky, but it’s definitely doable. One of the best ways to master the language is to find quality English lessons for adults online. Eurekly is a great resource for that. As a website that connects tutors of many subjects with prospective students, you can find a large selection of English tutors who specialize in teaching adults.
English lessons online offer several benefits that you can’t get with other learning resources.
First, you get one-on-one attention with your tutor. You definitely can’t get that from a classroom or group course!
Second, online tutoring is the ultimate convenience. You don’t need to go anywhere to get what you need—you can learn from the comfort of your home or during your lunch break at work. You don’t even have to cancel lessons if you go on vacation—as long as you have a desktop or mobile device, you can access online English lessons on Eurekly.
A third benefit of online English lessons is the cost. Private local tutors and college classes can be expensive. Online tutoring is much more competitive, probably because the tutors know that if they don’t offer competitive prices, students won’t choose them. At Eurekly, some tutors offer English lessons for adults for just $6 per session.
A fourth benefit of online English lessons is that they save time. You don’t need to spend hours searching for tutors who fit your criteria—the website does it for you. With just one tap of your finger, you get a list of qualified English teachers to choose from. No asking friends, posting on Facebook, or looking in the Yellow Pages. Finding tutors is easy-peasy.
Do I Need a Tutor Who Specializes in Adult Teaching?
Research published in the Journal of Cognition and Development suggests that children and adults don’t learn in the same way. Therefore, studying English with a tutor who has experience teaching adults is important.
The traditional way of thinking is that children learn languages faster than adults because their brains have more plasticity, which makes it easier for them to internalize knowledge.
However, in other ways, adults are easier to teach than children. Adults choose to learn of their own volition—their motivation comes from within. Children, on the other hand, usually receive tutoring at the request of their parents or teachers, so the motivation doesn’t come from within them.
While children may be able to pick up foreign languages easier than adults, adults can understand their own learning goals better. When a parent tells a child that learning English can help them in the future, the kid may not take it to heart. They simply don’t have the frame of reference necessary to understand how English fluency can make their lives better.
Adults, on the other hand, usually have a concrete reason for learning English, and it usually has to do with work. Because the goal is concrete, it can be easier for adults to draw on their internal motivation and make great strides in their mission. A tutor who can keep pace while offering structure and guidance is important to seeing that mission through.
Can Learning English Really Help My Career?
English is considered an international language. It’s the official language of over 60 countries, but spoken in many more than that. Knowing English broadens your career opportunities, especially at the international level.
English is also considered the language of science and medicine. Whatever your native language is, many textbooks are in English. English is even the language of the internet! No matter what your field, if your website is in English, you can reach a larger audience.
Additionally, a study conducted by Forbes Insights in 2017 discovered that a multilingual workforce is a critical factor for business success. Therefore, employers are more likely to hire people who speak at least two different languages. Since English is so widely spoken across the world, it’s a good choice to learn as an adult.
Is English a Hard Language to Learn as an Adult?
All languages can be tricky to learn as an adult, but with the proper motivation and goals, you can achieve a great deal. The question of whether English is harder to learn than other languages depends on your native language.
Contrary to the popular belief that English is a Romance language, it’s actually a Germanic language. However, it shares similarities with Romance languages. Therefore, people who speak either type are likely to have an easier time learning English. Native German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian speakers are likely to have an easier time learning English than Japanese or Russian speakers.
Whatever language is your native one, if you put the time in and partner with a professional English tutor, your chances of learning English successfully are high. All you need to do is get started.