There are many ways to learn a language on the Internet, some of them free, others paid.
One format is the online language school.
Is this the right language learning option for you? Learning online with these schools woks as follows: you sign up for one-to-one language lessons as you would with any language school, and at the appointed time, you log on and meet your dedicated teacher on screen through their webcam.
On your screen, there is a shared 'whiteboard' space where you can type and draw to clarify ideas and concepts.
Advantages of online language lessons The advantage of Internet language schools as compared to free learning platforms like LiveMocha is that there is quality control by a company that you can hold accountable.
Compared to in-person lessons, online lessons have the advantage of flexibility: you do not have to come down to a lesson location, and you can even travel to the other side of the world and still continue your lessons.
This is a huge advantage if you travel a lot, for work or otherwise.
Disadvantage On the flipside, online language lessons are often not as intense as in-person lessons.
It depends hugely on your personal motivation and learning style whether learning a language this way will work for you.
Steer clear of learning a language online if you are a competitive learner, who likes to compare results between peers and a large part of your motivation is wanting to do at least as well as your peers.
Also, if you are a social learner who likes to share the learning experience with others, you are probably better off joining a group language class.
Conclusion Online language lessons can be great for saving both time and money.
But they are not equally suited for everyone.
If you are independent and self motivated, they may work well for you.
If you prefer the comparison and companionship of fellow learners, you will probably do better in a real-life group class.