Choosing the Best Online English Course for Your Child.
Author: Amy Holland
Date: 19/08/2024
If you have found your way to this article, you were probably wondering, “How do I choose an online English course for my child?” We understand that helping your child learn English can be a challenging task!
The fact that there are so many course options from which to choose simply adds to the challenge, but what should you be looking out for? To assist you on your journey, we have compiled some key points to consider when choosing from the many courses available for young children.
Factors to Consider
Here are the key factors you will need to consider ensuring you make an educated decision when choosing online English courses for children.
Age-Appropriate English Curriculum
Different age groups have distinct learning needs, you will want to look for an English course that matches your child’s developmental level. Younger children perform best when online English lessons are interactive and have a play-based approach, whereas older children may benefit from structured lessons that emphasise grammar and writing skills.
Qualified English Teachers
For teachers to adequately deliver English courses for kids online, it is imperative that they have the relevant qualifications and experience. Check that the course you choose is taught by experienced and certified teachers who have a history of creating a supportive learning environment for young learners. Any feedback and testimonials of past students and their parents can help you measure a teacher’s efficacy in an online classroom.
Read this blog article to discover how native English-speaking teachers with strong academic backgrounds can make all the difference in your child’s English language development.
Comprehensive English Language Skill Development
The most effective English courses should cover all areas of language learning, such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Finding a comprehensive English curriculum for your child will help them gain proficiency in these areas. Ultimately, the goal is for your child to feel confident in using the English language in real-life situations.
Incorporating Technology
Want your child to experience interactive English online lessons filled with relevant and helpful resources? Courses that effectively incorporate technology in the lessons are an excellent choice. Look for online English schools that use interactive tools and multimedia content. Your child will benefit from a learning environment that leverages the tools to the fullest.
What Are the 5 Signs of High-Quality Online English Courses for Children?
1. Lessons are visually appealing
To keep young learners engaged and enthusiastic about learning English, lessons must be accompanied by colourful and visually appealing learning materials. This is especially true in an online environment! Online English lessons are a clever blend of traditional offline learning techniques and computer resources that make lessons dynamic and attractive.
2. Retaining attention
Perhaps you have wondered how your child will retain focus during an online English lesson, and there are a couple of methods an online school will use to retain your child’s attention during class.
Using attractive visuals, as mentioned above, is one sure-fire way to keep young learners focused during classes. Technology in the form of videos and sound effects also help young learners maintain peak focus in the classroom.
3. Gamification
Playing games in any form is quintessential to being a child, which is why gamification is so valuable when teaching children new skills. Gamification is all about making learning a new language as easy and fun as possible for children. The ‘fun’ aspect of an online English classroom is what will keep your child excited about attending class consistently in the future.
4. Effective and empathic teachers
Teachers set the pace in the classroom for young learners, so the way they approach lessons makes all the difference! Emotional intelligence is just as important as the qualifications of any online English teacher as they will need to be able to gauge the mood and interest level of each child to ensure that lessons are productive and effective.
5. Interaction
Communication is incredibly important when children are learning English as a second language. For children to learn English in an online setting, the key is to get them highly engaged in conversation, so they build confidence in using their new language skills.
Choosing the Best Online English Course for Your Child
What is the best online English course for your child? Well, we have found that the best method combines all the elements mentioned above to create a highly productive and interactive learning environment.
At Meridian School of English, we make use of Oxford University Press materials, which offer a balanced approach to learning English for young children of varying age groups. Our certified teachers, interactive lessons, and comprehensive curriculum ensure that children not only develop strong English skills, but also gain the confidence to use them in real-life situations.
If you are looking for a course that focuses on growing your child’s English grammar, writing, or speaking skills, our courses provide young children with a high-quality English education that will prepare them for a bright future.