From shopping to entertainment to music, the internet has changed everything. Learning a new language or anything else is also being revolutionised by the internet. It has way more options than never existed ten years ago.
However, this does not mean that English learning or learning another language is effortless. But the process has transformed over the years.
Here are a few distinct ways the internet has changed learning a language:
- Advancement in technology:
Everything today has become digitalised only with the help of the internet, rather than going to a library or schlepping around dictionaries, learning guides and books. Nowadays, everything fits in the palm. So, you can learn English pronunciation within the comfort of your home.
The smartphone allows the user to carry all the required resources wherever they go, making learning a language more convenient and easy.
- English is becoming the second language for many:
The internet is rapidly transforming English into a second language for many people. Many researchers estimate that English will be the primary language used on the internet within ten years.
Here are some reasons why:
- Internet users usually use English as their default language.
- Therefore, English language entertainment is readily available on the internet, and one can practise English
- Facebook and other social media bring together people of different origins or countries who use English as a mode of communication.
The number of people who use English as a second language already outnumber native speakers. We should expect this discrepancy to continue to grow.
- Multiple learning sources:
Before the internet, learning a language was limited to reading books. So, you had to read language books and listen to the native shows on Tv or CD.
Unless you went to the country where the people speak that language, you didn’t have any other option.
The internet has created varieties of new learning methods. For example, learners can easily use various language learning apps available on the internet or video chat with native speakers. Nowadays, dictionaries come with audio integrated to help ensure proper pronunciation. In addition, viewers can easily add subtitles to their favourite series or films on an online entertainment platform.
With google translate, learners can get the meaning of every single word in their native language. So, while the internet can’t teach you some foreign language in person, it can undoubtedly bring the language to them in a way which was never possible before.
- Auto-Correction:
Auto-correction has dramatically sped up the learning process. When writing, the autocorrect feature quickly corrects both spelling and grammar. It can directly or indirectly help achieve fluency much faster as well.
Before the internet, people had to do all the corrections manually. But the internet has made this thing much more manageable.
- More personalised:
Before digitisation, people who wished to learn a new language had limited options. They were both costly and time-consuming. Plus, the availability of resources was limited.
Nowadays, learning can be endlessly customisable. If you prefer video, you can study via YouTube or online courses. If you prefer audio, you can use audiobooks, podcasts and more if you want one to one interaction, then video calls can be perfect.
Nothing can replace hard work when learning a new language, but the internet has made the process much easier.
