Online courses are a gold mine for conveniently learning written and spoken English . Much like traditional schools, many of these courses are developed by experienced educators with well-organized curricula designed to improve your English.
Taking English classes for immigrants should be a top priority when settling in the U.S. This is especially because mastering American English boosts communication, employability, social integration, and confidence—all of which are vital to helping you live comfortably in a new country.
With countless available resources offering a plethora of course materials, finding the best options can be overwhelming. Explore these top 15 best English courses online to help you narrow the search and pick the right solution for you.
1. BoldVoice BoldVoice is an exceptional online platform and resource bank with over 150 video lessons and 12,000 practice items focusing on pronunciation and general English. The app is flexible for learners at different levels, allowing you to curate a course plan tailored to your speech needs.
With BoldVoice, you’ll find tailored practice exercises like speech recording, roleplaying scenarios, and regular speech evaluation for assessment. Unlike many other resources, BoldVoice uses advanced artificial intelligence technology to provide personalized, immediate feedback, with a particular focus on fine-tuning the nuances of pronunciation.
Learn more about BoldVoice through one user's personal experience with the app:
BoldVoice is an app made by immigrants, for immigrants . Join the BoldVoice club and test it out for yourself with a free 7 day trial .
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2. Duolingo Duolingo is a language-learning app that offers interactive English courses. With its gamified approach, users can learn English vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills through fun and engaging exercises.
The app's pros include interactive lessons and quizzes, daily practice reminders, and progress tracking. On the downside, Duolingo offers limited grammar explanations, and it may not be challenging enough for advanced language learners.
3. Coursera This platform is a popular learning resource that partners with top universities and institutions to offer a wide range of English courses online. Coursera courses cover everything from basic English to specialized topics like grammar, intonation , and academic writing.
With courses from reputable universities and a flexible learning schedule, Coursera users benefit from earning certificates upon completion of courses. However, some of these courses can be quite expensive, and there's a significant time commitment required to complete them.
4. ESOL Courses ESOL is short for English for Speakers of Other Languages and it provides free online lessons for English learners at all levels. ESOL courses offer activities, quizzes, games, and worksheets to help users improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
The wide range of activities and exercises are suitable for learners of all proficiency levels, and the interactive and user-friendly interface makes learning a breeze. However, these lessons may lack the depth of a more structured approach.
5. edX Popular among students, edX is a widely recognized platform that hosts multiple courses to help you gain skills and knowledge beneficial to your career. edX was founded by Harvard University and MIT and it offers English courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Learners can choose from various topics, including general English and business English .
Users can even earn degrees through the platform, and it's one of few English courses online that offers both free and paid options. With that being said, certificates can be expensive and some courses require a hefty time investment.
6. Lingoda If you're looking for online English classes for adults, then you can try Lingoda. Lingoda is an online language school that offers live English classes with certified teachers. Learners can join group classes or opt for private lessons, allowing for personalized and interactive learning experiences.
Offering flexible scheduling, Lingoda focuses on speaking and conversation through interactions with native speakers. Because of this approach, it's more expensive than self-paced courses and it does require a stable internet connection for live classes.
7. FutureLearn FutureLearn’s online English courses mostly cover general English, business English, and TOEFL and IELTS preparation , providing learners with the skills they need for various contexts.
Featuring high-quality courses from top institutions and interactive forums and peer support, FutureLearning is a leading online English course for immigrants. With free access and optional paid upgrades, users can earn certificates of achievement.
8. Open Culture Open Culture curates a list of free English courses online from universities and educational platforms. The resources include video lectures, audio programs, and e-books, providing diverse learning materials.
With regular updates and additions to the content library, Open Culture offers a vast array of free educational and cultural resources. However, some of those resources may require addition navigation on external sites, and the lack of personalized learning paths may delay or limit learning progress compared to other online English courses.
9. USA Learns This platform provides free online English courses for foreigners and non-natives seeking to navigate America. The platform offers beginner-to-intermediate lessons offering additional value in practical English skills for everyday life, work, and citizenship.
The citizenship course provides valuable resources for those preparing to immigrate, and the interactive, multimedia-rich content enhances user engagement and retention. However, the platform offers no formal certification or accreditation for completed courses.
10. Alison Alison is a free online learning and upskilling platform that also offers English as a Second Language online courses. Its English courses cover a wide range of topics, including grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and specific skills like writing and speaking.
Through self-paced learning and featuring forums for learners to share knowledge, users of Alison can follow free courses with optional paid certificates. However, some users complain of a lack of personalized feedback and instructor interaction.
11. MOOEC (Massive Open Online English Course) You’ll find free online English courses on MOOEC that are primarily developed by Australian universities and colleges. The platform provides lessons on various topics, including general English, academic English, and IELTS preparation.
While the platform offers fully free resources on a diverse range of topics, the self-paced learning tool focuses on Australian English, which differs quite drastically from American English .
12. Khan Academy Khan Academy is a non-profit educational platform that provides free, high-quality educational resources to improve English language skills. The courses on this platform border around grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, making them suitable for learners of all levels.
With that being said, it's important to note that the platform is not specifically targeted for an ESL audience.
13. Udemy One of the most prominent learning resources, Udemy offers a variety of English courses online, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Learners can also find courses on general English, business English, and test preparation taught by experienced instructors.
With a wide range of topics featuring interacting content, users gain lifetime access to course materials. The pricing is affordable and subject to frequent discounts, however, the quality and depth of instruction can vary significantly from course to course, since the courses are created by individual instructors.
14. Rosetta Stone Rosetta is a well-known language-learning platform that offers comprehensive courses in English and other languages. Using immersive techniques, Rosetta Stone helps learners develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
Through a structured curriculum, those learning English gain cultural insights alongside their language lessons. However, some users report that the lessons lack real-life contexts.
15. Udacity Like edX, Udacity is an online learning platform that focuses on technical courses and Nanodegree programs in various fields such as programming, data science, AI, and more.
Since these online classes don't focus primarily on English skills, they may lack the full suite of tools offered by a genuine English language course, such as comprehensive language exercises or cultural content. That being said, many Udacity courses do include hands-on practical projects.
Get Started Elevating Your American English No one-size-fits-all course can help all immigrants master the nuances of the English language. However, the resources in this article can help you get started identifying some high-quality courses that target your specific needs.
We highly recommend taking factors such as your proficiency level, budget, schedule, and learning preferences into consideration before settling for any course from whatever resource you choose.
You can also search appropriate English courses for your proficiency level on BoldVoice or use its speech assessment feature to identify your needs and curate personalized lessons.
Want to start seeing results? Get started on your online English training with BoldVoice’s seven-day free trial .
