Want to learn a language?Congratulations! Now comes the fun part: choosing the right language course for you.There are dozens of language courses or methods for new language learners to choose from, including language schools, online courses, books, or private language teachers.

The right language method can make the world of difference to your motivation, learning speed, and success. To help you make the right decision for your needs, we've crafted sixteen questions you should be asking yourself before signing up to an online or offline language course.It explains how to choose what language to learn, and it poses questions you should be asking yourself prior to signing up for a language course. If you are going to pay to learn a new language, then do as much as you can to “Try before you buy.”Learning a language takes a long time and requires a large commitment, so it pays to sample a few languages and courses before you pick the one for you.Let's get started with the questions...

Are you planning on living in a certain country soon?

If you are moving to another country where a certain language dominates, then your choice is easy. What’s more, if you gain a general understanding of the language before you arrive, then you will find it easier to learn the language when you arrive.

Are you able to immerse yourself in the language?

People visit other countries to learn their language because it is easier to learn a language when you are immersed in the language. You find yourself picking up the language as you go. Every day is like a painful language lesson. It becomes easier over time as you learn more and more. The key to your success is a desire to keep learning. The people that stop learning once they have a basic understanding are the people that never become fluent.

Do you have friends with a different language?

If you have friends that speak a different language, then they may become your motivation to learn and keep learning. One problem with self-directed learning is that your own motivation is the key to your success. If your friends speak another language, you may have enough motivation to keep learning--even when it becomes boring.

Do you have a language preference?

Some people like the sound of a certain language, others like the country or culture that started the language. Some people consider one language to be easier than another, and some feel a natural affinity for certain languages. Sample a few languages and see if you prefer one over another. See if you can almost figure out what they are saying based on what you hear.

Are there languages similar to your own?

When you are considering which language to learn, think about the fact that some languages are similar to your own, and some languages are very different. For example, the way Korean people write and talk is dramatically different to the way English people write and talk. On the other hand, the French and German languages have a very similar way of writing and talking.

Would a certain language help your career?

Let’s face the fact that China is soon to become the world’s most powerful and richest country. With that in mind, it may help your career in the future if you learn Chinese. Does your boss speak a certain language? Do your biggest clients speak a certain language? Could you take on more duties at work if you knew a new language?

Have you sampled a few languages?

The Internet is loaded with free videos that teach you languages. You can hop onto YouTube and sample a series of different lessons. Try a beginner’s lesson in Japanese, Spanish, Polish and Greek and see which you find the easiest. There is a whole world to choose from, so try a few languages before you settle on the one you want to learn.

Are there suitable learning platforms that suit you personally?

There are many different ways to learn a new language. A mixed learning course is often the best way to learn, but it is up to you. You may find videos easier, but you may learn far slower than you would if you had a written and audio platform. You may learn some things better from text than you do from listening or watching. There are numerous language colleges both online and in real life. You need to decide which will suit you the best.

Do the lessons suit your learning style?

Some people work better when they are immersed in the language, some learn better in a classroom, others with a personal tutor, and so forth. There are many online formats and platforms, just like there are many offline formats and platforms. The way you learn will dictate which format and platform suits you best.

Is the teacher effective at teaching you?

If you have chosen a teacher, be it a real life one, an online one, or a course that was composed by a teacher, you need to discover if that teacher is effective at teaching you. The teacher may be very highly rated, but how you learn is unique to yourself. If you are looking to learn a new language, this is the reason why a free sample is preferable. That way, you may find out if the teacher is able to effectively teach you.

How much time are you willing to dedicate to learning a new language?

This is a very big question. It doesn’t matter how much time you dedicate to your learning if you do not have a deadline of any kind. What matters is that you apply yourself frequently. Even if you only spend ten minutes every Monday and Friday, you will still learn the language eventually. However, if you start missing days or forgetting (i.e. if you do not learn frequently), then you will fail to learn the language.

Are you looking for qualifications?

The course you pick and the teacher you pick are different if you are looking to gain a qualification. If you are taking an exam in a language, then you need a teacher or teaching materials that will teach you what is required for the test. If you are learning for your own edification, then you have a flexible learning deadline and you have more freedom to learn as you wish (and from what/whom you wish).

What are other students saying about the language course you are looking at?

Most language courses and language teachers have an online reputation. Companies have a larger and more easily accessible online reputation. Freelance teachers are a little harder to track. Take a look at what other students are saying about the company or teacher you are about to choose. Remember that testimonials on the company’s/freelancer’s website are not reliable because the company/freelancer chooses what appears on the website.

Where is the location and is it based online?

Getting to and from your language course may cause a problem. You may prefer the teaching at one school, but find it is too far away. When deciding which language to learn, consider your location and how far away your lessons may be.

How much is it going to cost?

There are plenty of free language courses online, and there are plenty of paid ones. There is no way of saying which are better and which are worse--that is up to you. Suffice it to say that the cost of your course should feature in your decision making process. If you are hiring a teacher or attending a school, ask yourself if you can afford the classes, and think about the value you are getting for the money you are spending.

How flexible is the language course?

There may be time limits to each class, it may demand that you attend (online or in person) at certain times, and it may require a certain level of learning as time goes by. You may want to be challenged and you may like the idea of tests to prove your learning, or you may prefer a more relaxed approach.Related posts to choose the right language course:

• What's the Easiest Language to Learn?
• Complete Guide to Learning Languages Online
• How to Learn a Language From 12 Language Experts

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