Online Vs. In-Person Language Teaching: Which is better?

After months of assessing the global outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The pandemic caused educational disruption around the world, with nationwide closures forcing institutions to close their doors to students temporarily. It has been estimated that the closures affected roughly 70% of the global student population.

Schools and districts were faced with the challenge of maintaining learning continuity while school closure extensions were seeming distant. Apparently, the simple and quick solution was to conduct school remotely using online resources. Countries that were the first to be severely impacted by the virus, such as China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran, shifted to temporary homeschooling immediately through online educational tools and platforms.

As the COVID-19 pandemic turned personal and professional worlds upside down, online learning emerged as a safe and viable option for education continuity. Even prior to the pandemic, the global E-learning market was experiencing massive annual growth. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1 per cent from 2018 to 2026, reaching $336.98 billion by 2026. Because of the pandemic, the growth estimates are likely to be updated sooner rather than later.

The United States, India, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Côte d’Ivoire are known to be the countries that invest the most in E-learning.

However, when questioned about Campus or Online Classes, each student would have a different answer to give, because it all ultimately boils down to finding the right academic programme that meets their needs, goals, and priorities. A feature or requirement that benefits one student may be detrimental to another, making it critical to thoroughly evaluate both options. With that in mind, let us examine some of the key differences between online and on-campus degree programmes.

Flexibility in scheduling

In today’s hectic world, online courses provide unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Whether you’re a night owl or a morning person, online classes allow you to log in and complete your work from the comfort of your own bed. You can study on your own time, without having to deal with a stressful, time-consuming commute.

Reduced Tuition and Boarding Fees

Online students are not required to pay for student housing, commuting gas, or on-campus meal programmes. This can result in significant savings, which is a significant benefit for budget-conscious students. Consider what you could do with the money you’ll save on transportation, food, and dorm living.

Increased Opportunities for Networking

Online courses allow you to interact with students from all over the world. This could lead to professional opportunities that you would not have had access to in a traditional classroom setting. Online courses make it easy to be a passive participant, but taking advantage of your networking opportunities is far more rewarding for the investment you’re making.

Ideal for working parents and parents on the go.

Working or raising a family? Online courses allow you to schedule your education around your schedule, eliminating the need to sacrifice family time, hire expensive babysitters, or reduce your work hours. Distance education is ideal for everyone with a hectic or unpredictable schedule, 

from stay-at-home parents to busy freelancers. For example, many students attend online college while working full-time.  

While virtual learning is becoming more popular, traditional on-campus courses remain dominant in the educational landscape. So, what are some of the reasons why many people still prefer in-person learning?

Distraction-Free Setting

A successful education necessitates concentration and focus. Classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls provide tightly focused, distraction-free learning environments with all the tools and space you require, allowing you to devote yourself to the lesson rather than that annoying car alarm, barking dog, or ringing phone in the background.

Experiential Learning

Every student does not learn in the same way. Some people learn visually, while others prefer to take detailed notes, and still, others learn best through firsthand experience. Furthermore, some disciplines, such as learning how to repair a machine or perform a medical procedure, necessitate hands-on experience. If you value direct, hands-on learning opportunities, an on-campus degree programme may be a better fit.

Distance education has a number of distinct advantages in the right set of circumstances. On the other hand, there may be some disadvantages to online learning. Here are some potential pitfalls to be aware of before applying.

Technical Requirements that are more stringent

If you consider yourself to be more tech-challenged than tech-savvy, online learning may present some challenges due to its reliance on computer programmes, which can be costly to purchase and difficult to navigate. Fortunately, there are numerous resources available to assist you in mastering the software you’ll need to succeed. Many schools, in fact, have dedicated IT departments and help desk services for students who may be experiencing problems with online learning portals, as well as troubleshooting guides.

Increased Requirement for Self-Motivation

To complete your work in a timely manner for self-paced programmes, you’ll need to exercise some serious self-discipline. If you procrastinate, it may be more difficult to reap the full benefits of distance education without a rigid class schedule to push you to attend a class at a designated time and place every week.

Distractions in the Home

Unfortunately, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a peaceful home office or a nearby park to escape to. It may be difficult to stay focused on your coursework if your home environment is chaotic and full of distractions, such as screaming children, rowdy roommates, or the ever-present allure of having Netflix and video games in your direct line of sight.

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Despite the fact that many students benefit from in-person learning, there are a few reasons why online programmes may be a better fit for you. Here are a few key points to consider before enrolling in an on-campus programme.

Scheduling is less under your control.

You have much less control over when and where you attend classes in a traditional, on-campus degree programme than you would in an online programme. If you have a full calendar or if your availability varies — for example, if you’re an independent contractor who has slow and busy periods — you might want to consider an online programme. You will have more control over your class schedule as a result of this.

Getting to Classes

You will need to commute to and from campus if you attend your classes in person. Depending on your living situation, this can consume a lot of gas, time, and money, not to mention put you in stressful traffic jams every day. If you intend to enrol in an on-campus programme, consider the logistics of your daily commute carefully.  

Increased Tuition Costs

Traditional students typically have higher expenses due to factors such as student housing, on-campus meal programmes, and commuting via public transportation or gas.

There is one characteristic that both online and in-person programmes have in common, and that’s the sheer number of degrees available to students in either setting, through Universities, private colleges, platforms such as Coursera, Udemy and Multibhashi. 

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