{"id":4623,"date":"2021-04-28T11:35:45","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T18:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/english-speaking\/?p=4623"},"modified":"2021-05-02T11:48:08","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T18:48:08","slug":"english-learning-programs-for-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/english-speaking\/english-learning-programs-for-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"English Learning Programs for Adults: How to Find the Best One"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may have studied English in college or taken classes years ago. Now that you\u2019re no longer in a formal English learning program, you\u2019re probably looking for cost-effective ways to improve your English and ultimately achieve fluency. If this describes you, keep reading!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s guide, we are going to give you actionable steps to find the best <\/span>English learning programs<\/i><\/b> for adults. Additionally, we will provide you with some parameters to consider and pitfalls to avoid in your search. Finally, we will focus on programs catered to English learners who don\u2019t just want to see minor improvements, but those who want to achieve full English fluency. So, let\u2019s get started:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Parameters to consider when choosing English learning programs for adults<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We always advise our English students to do ample research before signing up for an English language learning program. If you just enroll in the first course or program you find, you could be greatly disappointed. For this reason, it\u2019s best to compare and contrast your options using the following parameters:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cost<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before you even start searching for an English learning program, you should set a budget. In our experience, you should be prepared to spend at least $200 per year on English studies (for at least 2.5 years) if you want to achieve fluency. This is not a precise figure, but it should give you a general idea of what to expect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have enough funds in your budget, there are various free learning resources online. However, it may take you far longer to improve your English this way. So, paying for a structured English learning program will fast-track your progress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Staff<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ideally, the best English learning programs for adults should include staff in multiple positions. In other words, you should have a teacher to guide your studies and help you practice English speaking, as well as secondary staff to address technical issues, billing, or questions about the program.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, the most important staff member will be your teacher (tutor, instructor, etc). The best English programs link one trained English teacher with one or more students for an extended period of time. If you choose a program that keeps teachers on a constant rotation, you will not get consistent or reliable feedback. These types of programs are often designed for general speaking practice, with no guarantee of fluency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lesson materials<\/span><\/h3>\n

In most cases, when you sign up for an adult English learning program, the materials come with the cost of your subscription or purchase. However, many programs provide no classroom materials. So, you will need to determine if a program without any formal teaching materials is the right fit for you. We believe that any quality English course or program for adults should provide some lesson materials to supplement English conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Curriculum design<\/span><\/h3>\n

Free-form English programs may be fine to help maintain your current English level, but they will make it very difficult for you to gauge your progress. Therefore, the best English learning programs for adults feature curriculums designed for long-term learning (1+ years). If a program doesn\u2019t have a set curriculum for learners at different levels, it probably won\u2019t meet your needs. For example, if you\u2019re a C1 learner who joins an English program that caters to intermediate learners (B1 and B2), you may feel like you\u2019ve wasted your time and money.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Amount of speaking practice<\/span><\/h3>\n

An English program without speaking practice won\u2019t help you become a fluent English speaker. Therefore, if you want to become fluent in English, you should look for English learning programs that put emphasis on speaking practice. For example, if the curriculum is divided into different skill sets, you should look for one that is at least 50% speaking practice. Reading, writing, and listening practice are all helpful as well, but they do not provide the same level of fast-paced learning as speaking with a native English speaker.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Amount of feedback<\/span><\/h3>\n

Without feedback, you have no objective way to measure your progress. Naturally, you can gauge your own progress to one degree or another, but you may not be able to accurately recognize your greatest strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the best English learning programs provide regular feedback to their students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideally, you should get some feedback in every class you attend. Usually, this kind of feedback will be informal, but it will still help you understand your English level better. Additionally, quality English learning programs should provide more formal, structured feedback on a regular basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fluency guarantee<\/span><\/h3>\n

Since English fluency requires a great deal of effort on the part of the student, many English learning programs are afraid to offer guarantees like \u201cachieve English fluency or get your money back!\u201d That said, you should be wary of companies or programs that don\u2019t offer any kind of guarantee. When teachers and staff have to help you reach English fluency to fulfill the program\u2019s intent, they are much more likely to provide the kind of learning experience you need to improve at a steady pace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why do these parameters matter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We encounter a lot of new learners who express their discontent with other English learning programs. Despite their best efforts, many adult ESL students end up enrolling in programs that really don\u2019t meet their needs. For example, if your end goal is to speak English with little or no accent, a program that does not focus on speaking practice simply won\u2019t help you. Alternatively, if you just want to grow your English vocabulary, an English learning program with a lot of reading materials and vocabulary exercises might better suit your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How to figure out the best course for you<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now that you know which parameters to consider, it\u2019s time to compare and contrast a few of the most popular English learning programs for adults. Fortunately, we\u2019ve done most of the hard work and number-crunching for you! Here are a few of the best programs currently on the market:<\/span><\/p>\n

iTalki<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n