English courses are an excellent way to improve your English, no matter what level you are starting from. There are many different English language learning programs to choose from, and the best English course for you will depend on a number of factors and preferences including:
- Your current English level
- Your location
- The time you have available
- Your budget
- Your preferred learning method
- Your reason for learning English
With this in mind, our guide to the best English courses – online and offline – is broken down into a number of sections to help you find the one that suits you best.
Jump to the section that’s most helpful for you, or browse the full article to get more inspiration for the best English courses available today!
Below is a quick summary of some of our top English course recommendations. Below this, you’ll find more detail about why we recommend each one – as well as some additional options.
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Do you want to learn English online or another way?
There are different approaches to learning English, and you should choose a course according to your learning preferences.
Online courses
Online English courses let you learn easily and conveniently, and there is a huge variety of options to suit every budget, level, and topic. So, it’s safe to say that almost anyone with an internet connection can learn English online.
There are so many good options that we have a separate article dedicated to the best online English courses – check this out if you want more detailed recommendations. For now, here are a few of our top picks:
- Gymglish: Gymglish is a comprehensive and effective English learning platform that offers a personalized approach with a touch of humor to keep it fun and engaging. Courses are available for all levels and you’ll receive a reminder each day via email and/or app notification. Get a 1-month free trial here or read our full Gymglish review for more details.
- Alison: Free English courses for every level covering all kinds of topics, including career development. You can even find ESOL courses taught in your native language here.
- Duolingo: The English courses on Duolingo are designed to feel more like English learning games, so you can earn points, unlock badges, and compete against friends. What makes this the best English learning program for many people is that much of the content can be accessed for free. However, certain features are only available with a paid subscription.
- Babbel: Babbel is one of the best platforms if you want to focus on practical, real-life language skills. It combines interactive learning with personalized feedback to help you get the most out of your online English classes.
- BBC learning English: A comprehensive range of lessons from intermediate to advanced, available for free. Lesson formats include text, video and games to keep learning interesting and engaging.
MOOC (massive open online courses)
MOOCs are a type of online course, consisting of classes taught by real teachers. The classes are accessible via an online platform, and any number of students may access them.
Some prestigious universities offer MOOCs that follow a formal schedule, but this type of online English learning is also available through platforms like Udemy and Coursera which let you learn at your own pace. You’ll have limited or no interaction with your teacher, but they can be some of the best online courses for accessing high-quality materials at an affordable price.
You can even access online English courses for free on platforms like Alison. There are quite a lot of ads on the free version, but if you really enjoy the courses, you can pay a small fee for the ad-free version.
Physical classroom
If you would prefer not to take English courses online, but in a classroom environment, there are many places you can look to research your options. These include:
- Language schools
- Universities
- Libraries and community centers
- Adult education centers
Some of these places offer intensive English courses, which cover more material in a shorter time for students who need to improve their English quickly.
You may also have the option of blended learning, which combines some in-person teaching with an online learning platform and perhaps some elements of the course taught online.
Blended learning can be a good option if you appreciate face-to-face teaching but don’t have time to attend regular lessons, or you need a flexible studying schedule.
Our guide to finding English classes near you has more information about where to look and what to consider.
Private tuition
There are experienced English tutors all around the world, so no matter where you live, you should be able to find someone to help you learn English.
Benefits of private English lessons with a tutor include:
- One-on-one attention
- Fully customized lesson plans
- Personalized guidance based on your strengths and weaknesses
The main downside is that private tuition is typically one of the most expensive options. Finding a tutor offering online English lessons is one way to reduce this cost, but it’s not quite the same as being face-to-face, seeing how they move their mouth as they speak, and picking up on subtle differences in pronunciation.
If you are interested in taking group or private English classes online, here are some good options:
- Preply: Over 15,000 English tutors are available on this platform, teaching private and group English learning lessons. Choose from different specialties such as business English, exam preparation, and English classes for kids. Get 50% off your first lesson today!
- British Council: Flexible English learning where you choose the topic and schedule of each class. Private tutoring and small group classes are available, and they encourage you to switch between teachers for greater exposure to different accents and cultures. Get a 7-day free trial and try the lessons for yourself or read our British Council English Online review for full details.
- EF English Live: An online English school that combines private lessons, group classes, and online learning materials. Join classes at times that suit you and work through each level at your own pace.
- Lingoda: Join online English classes with 2-4 students. The curriculum-based lessons are designed to give students maximum speaking time with personalized feedback from the teacher. Courses cover all levels and you can download your lesson plan in advance to prepare for your class.
Immersion
Learning a language through immersion means not just practicing for a set time each day, but doing whatever you can to surround yourself with the language and immerse yourself in the culture of the country as well.
Education First (EF) has a variety of English immersion programs in nine different English-speaking countries. Or, for an at-home immersion learning option, try Rosetta Stone. Their app teaches you to use the language in real-life situations through intuitive learning.
However, if you don’t have the time or the budget for this kind of English course, don’t worry. You can practice immersion learning for free at home by doing some of the following:
- Watching English movies and TV shows
- Listening to English language podcasts and audiobooks
- Reading English fiction books
- Changing your phone and internet browser language to English
- Following the news in English, or keeping up with your hobbies and other interests
- Practicing English with native speakers or other learners in your community
Check out more resources for learning English free.
Best English courses by level
Beginner
Lingoda English classes are good for beginners for a number of reasons:
- Their English courses start from level A1: Absolute Beginner
- Each plan includes at least 1 live lesson per week
- Lessons follow a set curriculum to ensure all topics are covered at each level
You can also find a large selection of free basic English courses on Alison, a platform that provides completion certificates for many of its courses.
Intermediate
At intermediate level, the best learning tool might be an app like Gymglish, as you’ll receive daily lessons that take you through the vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension you’ll need to navigate everyday situations.
Gymglish has an advanced learning model so each lesson you receive is customized based on your previous performance. This means you can move through each module at a pace that suits you.
Advanced
Coursera has some great advanced English courses that cover a wide range of topics, whether you want to focus on a particular area of study or improve your English for work. This is one of the most popular; it teaches advanced grammar and punctuation for professionals and academics.
You can also browse a wide range of advanced topics in Alison’s free English courses.
At this level, it can be helpful to have an Advanced learner’s dictionary. These go far beyond providing word definitions, but also contain a lot of helpful information about grammar and word choice.
English classes according to competency
English grammar
All of the best English courses should cover basic grammar topics, as without good grammar it can be very difficult to communicate.
Gymglish is especially good at explaining grammar rules, so when you get something wrong, you can understand why. The adaptive lessons will also customize themselves to focus on areas you need the most help with.
There are also some good English grammar courses on Udemy and Coursera. Whether you want a general overview or you’d like to dive deeper into certain tenses, you should be able to find something suitable there.
English vocabulary
Again, it’s hard to learn English without covering vocabulary, but some courses will help you expand your vocabulary more than others.
A good free English resource is ESOL Courses, which has a selection of vocabulary lessons on various topics, arranged according to level. This makes it easy to browse topics of interest at a suitable level for you.
Similarly, BBC Learning English has a range of free courses and lessons that focus on vocabulary.
There are many other ways to improve your English vocabulary without having to take a specific course.
Learning to speak English
The best way to improve your English fluency in speaking is by taking conversation classes or meeting regularly with other English speakers.
Any English courses that incorporate a ‘live’ teaching element where you are speaking to a teacher, whether face-to-face or online, will help you practice and improve your confidence with spoken English.
If this is not an option, try to join local English-speaking groups where you can hone your English communication skills and discuss whatever topics interest you.
Reading
ReadTheory is not exactly a course, but a website with exercises focused on English reading comprehension. All materials are free, but you need to sign up for an account in order to access them.
Listening
FluentU is a great platform for learning English listening skills as it is based around video. Each lesson helps users improve their English by watching a video and studying the language used in it.
Furthermore, you can practice your English listening comprehension by simply talking with other people. This could be in a classroom environment or by meeting other English learners online or in person.
Writing
Most English courses cover some element of written English, but if you want to focus on this skill specifically, browse some English writing courses on Coursera. These cover everything from essay and academic writing to complex sentences and business communication.
English learning programs for adults and kids
For adults
Most of the English courses we have already mentioned are suitable for adult English learners. One of our favorites is Gymglish, as their English online course incorporates a fair amount of humor, making learning more fun and engaging.
For kids
Children tend to need more structure to their learning, as they may not be so good at managing their own time and motivating themselves.
Night Zookeeper is a fun English learning platform designed just for kids. Accessible via tablet, desktop, or laptop, the creative courses develop reading and writing skills in English. Although there is no live teaching involved, your child’s work will receive immediate feedback from a real tutor.
If you’d prefer live English learning classes for your child, take a look on Preply. They have thousands of tutors who specialize in teaching English to kids. If your child is learning English as a second language, you might even find a course with a tutor who speaks their native language too, which can be helpful if they need further explanation about certain topics.
English lessons by accent
If you’re searching for English lessons to learn a particular accent, here are some recommendations.
British English
British English teachers are available on many online English platforms, but if you specifically want a British English course, try Perfect English Pronunciation: British English or Learn to Speak English with a Clear British Accent – both courses available on Udemy.
However, do keep in mind that there is more to learning British English than sounding like a member of the Royal Family. In fact, very few people in Britain actually speak like that. There are almost 40 regional dialects in the UK, each with its own distinct sound and unique vocabulary. This website gives an interesting look at a few of the most common, including RP (Received Pronunciation, which most foreigners consider a ‘typically British’ accent).
American English
You are more likely to come across American English accents in everyday life, as the US produces so many popular English movies, songs, and TV shows.
For dedicated listening and speaking practice focusing on an American accent, the Udemy courses American English Pronunciation for Beginners and AMERICAN ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION: Accent Reduction Made Easy are a good place to start.
Alternatively, USA Learns has some of the best free English courses and resources focused on American culture and gaining US citizenship.
Australian English
It’s less common for people to want to learn an Australian accent, but perhaps you are heading there to study or you just love learning about the differences between different English accents!
The Australia English Institute has courses for both pronunciation and vocabulary. Alternatively, you could check the platforms mentioned above and find an English tutor from Australia who can directly help you with your accent.
Overall, we would recommend you expose yourself to multiple national and regional accents as you become more fluent in English. You are going to meet non-native and native English speakers from all over the world in real life, so it’s good if you can understand a broad range of accents.
English language courses for different purposes
Conversational English
Alison.com has a wide range of free conversational English courses to suit every level.
Rosetta Stone is also good for conversational English as it focuses less on just learning words and grammar, and more on immersion in the language as you will actually use it. Tutors are available for conversation practice, too.
These may help you gain confidence with your speaking, but the best way to practice your English conversation skills is to simply chat with people, whether as part of an English program or just casually talking to people you know.
Business English
As English has become the international language of business, it’s more important than ever for people to learn English and business skills hand-in-hand.
The best English courses for business include:
- Udemy: This is one of the top-rated business English courses on the platform, focusing especially on communication skills when writing emails, reports and proposals.
- Coursera: You’ll find many good business English lessons on this platform, including this free one from the University of Washington.
- Gymglish: Their courses cover many business topics and situations, and certified training programs are available.
- Lingoda: Their dedicated business English course teaches vocabulary and grammar relating to business topics.
Test preparation (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge exams)
If you want an English course to help you pass a TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, Cambridge English, or any other English exam, EngVid is a good place to start. They have thousands of free English video lessons, including many on the topic of exam preparation. Just search by the topic that interests you and browse the videos there.
You can then consider taking one of these exam preparation courses online:
- Advanced English Grammar Course ( TOEFL and IELTS ) (Udemy)
- Courses by Cambridge English Teacher Rory (Udemy)
- TOEFL Reading and Listening Sections Skills Mastery (Coursera)
- TOEFL Speaking and Writing Sections Skills Mastery (Coursera)
- IELTS Test Preparation (British Council)
English for a profession
If you’re studying English to get into a particular profession, it’s helpful to take a course with vocabulary and phrases that you’ll use in that line of work.
Professions in which this may be particularly important include:
- Hospitality
- Tourism
- Healthcare
- Finance
- Law
A certificate may be important, as it shows potential employers that you have worked on these specific skills. All paid courses on Udemy come with a certificate of completion. Alison and Coursera are also good places to look because their courses come with the option of certification.
English literature courses
Courses in English literature are different to ESL (English as a Second Language) courses as they are just as popular with native speakers as English learners.
Universities offer the most in-depth English literature courses, but there are plenty of good online courses too, especially if you just want to explore the subject in your free time. English Literature: Be as Informed as a Literature Graduate is a good introductory course on Udemy, while NET English Complete Course takes a deeper look at English literature, with almost 300 hours of on-demand video teaching.
Considerations when selecting an English course
With all the English classes available to you, it’s helpful to consider some differentiating factors before you make a final choice. Here are some of the top things to keep in mind when comparing English language courses:
- Budget: There are a lot of free online English lessons available, but their quality varies and they tend not to be as in-depth or personalized as programs that you pay for. If you have a small budget, you can pick up lifetime access to some English courses online for as little as $10. Others charge a subscription fee of around $8 – $30/month, depending on the package you take. If you opt for in-person classes or online tutoring, you will likely pay a fee per lesson.
- Length & purpose: Are you hoping to quickly boost your English skills ahead of a trip abroad, or are you looking to study English long-term and make it a lifelong skill? Are you hoping to learn business English for better job opportunities, or just to enhance your English conversation skills?
- Level: What level are you starting at? Some programs for English language learners are ideal for beginners, whereas others begin at intermediate or even advanced level.
- Skills focus: Do you want to focus on a specific compentency, such as English grammar, vocabulary, or speaking? Or are you looking to improve your skills all-round?
- Age: The best programs to learn English for adults are different to those for kids or teenagers. Make sure you choose a platform and curriculum that suits the person learning.
- Accent / style of English: Do you have any preference whether you learn British or American English? Some English learning platforms have lessons from English speakers from around the globe, whereas others focus on a particular accent.
- Learning method: Would you prefer to learn in a traditional classroom environment, or do you like the idea of gamified learning from an app? Do you like to immerse yourself in hour-long study sessions, or would 10 minutes a day work better for you? There are even immersive English learning courses that allow you to study while living in an English-speaking country so that you get more exposure to the language.
- Interaction with teacher/students: Do you want to have direct interaction with an English teacher who can assess your progress and offer personalized feedback and help? Will you learn better if you are able to practice alongside other English learners, or do you prefer to study alone?
English course FAQs
What are the benefits of taking an English course?
Taking an English course can help you improve your speaking, writing, listening, and comprehension skills. This is especially important if you are planning to study or work in an English-speaking country. Additionally, learning English can open up new opportunities in your career and social life.
Is it really possible to learn English online?
Absolutely! Learning English online can be just as effective as learning in a traditional classroom setting. There are a lot of benefits to online learning, including flexibility, affordability, and the ability to work at your own pace. Plus, many online courses use interactive tools and technologies to help improve your skills.
How can I improve my English language skills?
Improving your English language skills takes practice and persistence. One of the best ways to do this is to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. This could mean watching English movies or TV shows, listening to English podcasts or music, or reading English books or news articles. Additionally, taking an English course or working with a tutor can help you get personalized feedback and guidance.
How long do English courses last?
Some intensive English courses last just a week, whereas others last a year or more. The duration of your course will depend on how in-depth you want to go with the language, and how much time you can dedicate to it. With many online English courses, you work at your own pace and set your own schedule. This means you can work through the materials as quickly or slowly as you like. Read more about how long it takes to learn English.
