Top MOOCs to learn a foreign language

[Carolyn]

In today's competitive job market, having additional language skills is almost a must, but it isn't always easy to find the time to commit to a language course or even to find an appropriate course in your local area.
Luckily, there is an increasing amount of MOOCs that offer the opportunity to learn a new language and culture or build on your existing language skills.

We have done some research and picked out some great MOOCs for you to consider.

The following courses cover language skills in English for non-native speakers, Mandarin, Chinese, Korean, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch & Frisian.

Learn English: Intermediate Grammar Specialization
By University of California, Irvine via Coursera

This specialization covers common topics in intermediate grammar, such as perfect verb tenses and adjective clauses. It will also cover "tricky English" grammar topics that learners of English often find frustrating. The capstone will give you a chance to review all of the knowledge you've learned in the courses and create a multi-media "scrapbook" of grammar to keep with you after the specialization ends.

Learn English: Advanced Grammar and Punctuation Specialization
By University of California, Irvine via Coursera

his specialization follows our Learn English: Intermediate Grammar specialization and includes more advanced grammar concepts such as noun clauses and conditionals. You'll also learn how to blend verb tenses effectively and how to punctuate sentences correctly. This specialization is useful for non-native English speakers who want to improve their fluency or native speakers who want to improve their accuracy in using English for academic or professional purposes.

English Grammar and Style
By The University of Queensland via edX

Learn key concepts and strategies in grammar and style to help enhance your writing and confidently respond to the demand of high levels of literacy in the 21st century.

With the rise of social media and the Internet, many people are writing more today for different mediums than ever before. We’ll present materials that cover grammatical principles, word usage, writing style, sentence and paragraph structure, and punctuation. We’ll introduce you to some marvelous resources that we have annotated for your guidance. We’ll show you video clips of interviews conducted with distinguished grammarians, challenge you with quizzes and writing activities that will give you strategies to help you to build skills that will enhance the quality of your writing, and invite you to participate in discussions and assess the work of your peers.

English Grammar and Essay Writing
By The University of California, Berkeley via edX

Improve your English grammar, essay and persuasive writing with this introductory college writing course.

As part two of the academic writing course series, English Grammar and Essay Writing will focus on:

• Proofreading
• Self-editing
• Revision
• Common English grammar errors
• Tone
• Diction
• Vocabulary building

Who should take this course?

• Anyone interested in refining persuasive writing techniques and essay development.
• Anyone preparing for or applying to college.
• Anyone proficient enough in English to follow an introductory level course.
• Anyone who is developing English-language writing and communication skills.

You do not need to have completed Part 1 to take this course. However, you may want to review College Writing 2.1x, which is archived on edx.org.

Business English for Non-Native Speakers Specialization
By The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via Coursera

This Specialization will introduce non-native speakers of English to methods for developing English language and communication skills for the workplace, doing business, cross-cultural understanding, and business case study analysis. You'll apply these skills in the final Capstone Project by analysing a current business case study and providing recommendations to a target audience in both presentation and written formats.

Improve Your English Communication Skills Specialization
By Georgia Tech Language Institute via Coursera

This Specialization helps you improve your professional communication in English for successful business interactions. Each course focuses on a particular area of communication in English: writing emails, speaking at meetings and interviews, giving presentations, and networking online. Whether you want to communicate to potential employers, employees, partners or clients, better English communication can help you achieve your language and professional goals. The Capstone course will focus especially on making those important connections to take your career or business to the next level. Make yourself more competitive by improving your English through this Specialization: Improve Your English Communication Skills.

Understanding IELTS: Techniques for English Language Tests
By The British Council via FutureLearn

Improve your English and prepare for tests, such as IELTS reading, writing, speaking and listening, with this free online course.
Anyone thinking about taking an English language test, such as IELTS, will find this course particularly useful, but all English language learners will benefit from the tips and advice given in the course.

The course focuses on the IELTS test (International English Language Testing System). IELTS is the world’s most popular English language test for higher education and global migration. IELTS is accepted by over 9,000 organisations worldwide including universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies. Over 2.2 million IELTS tests were taken globally last year.

This course will take you through each stage of the IELTS test — reading, writing, speaking and listening. At each stage there will be advice from our video tutor and a team of experienced IELTS educators. You will also be asked to share your experiences, tips and opinions with other learners.

By the end of the Understanding IELTS course, you will:

• be familiar with all parts of the IELTS test
• have some useful tips to help you achieve your IELTS goals
• understand how the IELTS test is assessed
• have an opportunity to have your written and spoken English assessed by other learners

The British Council has over 80 years’ experience in English language teaching and assessment and delivers IELTS tests in more than 100 countries. The course draws on the British Council’s expertise in online learning and will give you the opportunity to purchase a Statement of Participation.

Conversational English Skills
By Tsinghua University via edX

Learn how to effectively communicate in English and improve your conversational language skills.

Are you finding it difficult to start the conversation, or find the right words when communicating in English? Do you know how to start and end conversations in a polite way? Do you want to learn more about American, British, Canadian, Australian, South Korean, Colombian, and Chinese cultures? If so, you’ve come to the right course!

What you'll learn

• Develop conversational English skills
• Listen to dialogues and group discussions to better understand spoken English and cultural norms
• Learn key words and expressions
• Engage in activities to help you better understand the meaning of conversations
• Learn to initiate your own conversations in English on a variety of topics

Inglés Empresarial Specialization
By Arizona State University via Coursera

Este Programa Especializado sirve como una introducción al inglés empresarial, donde usted aprenderá a comunicarse sobre los temas como la gestión, las finanzas y el mercadeo. También aprenderá a escribir propuestas, resúmenes ejecutivos, y material publicitario, así como también aprenderá las estructuras del lenguaje necesarias para dirigir una reunión, realizar ventas, y negociar otras transacciones empresariales. En el proyecto final usted aplicará estas habilidades para comunicar el lanzamiento de un producto nuevo en inglés, asegurando que los ejecutivos empresariales tengan una variedad de herramientas lingüísticas con aplicaciones prácticas en escenarios de negocios en una variedad de áreas funcionales.

L'anglais pour tous - Spice up Your English
By Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) via FUN

A l’heure actuelle, pour évoluer professionnellement, voyager ou s’instruire, avoir une bonne connaissance de l’anglais est un atout non négligeable.
En tant qu’enseignante en langue étrangère, je suis convaincue que pour progresser efficacement dans l’apprentissage d’une langue, connaître les règles de base ne suffit pas. Comme en cuisine, vous pouvez disposer des meilleurs ingrédients du monde encore faut-il pouvoir les combiner harmonieusement pour obtenir un plat à la hauteur de vos espérances.
C’est pourquoi, dans ce MOOC, nous ne nous limiterons pas à l’apprentissage des bases de l’anglais. Nous vous aiderons également à déterminer votre style d’apprentissage et vous initierons à différentes techniques pour faciliter vos interactions en anglais.
Que vous souhaitiez améliorer votre anglais, interagir avec autrui ou découvrir une nouvelle culture, vous trouverez dans ce MOOC une multitude d’astuces et de conseils afin de vous aider à devenir un «successful learner».
Ce MOOC a reçu le label européen des langues 2015 (AEF-Label européen des langues)

Learn Mandarin Chinese Specialization
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University via Coursera

Come and learn the language which is spoken by more than 1 billion people and is getting more and more learners. This may enable you to know and do business with people from one of the world's biggest economies. This specialization may also help you to pass HSK (the only official proficiency test of Chinese language) level 1 or 2.
This is a beginner's course of Mandarin Chinese. It uses video lectures, short plays, interactive exercises and cultural tips to help learners build fundamental capability of oral Chinese in real-life situation. At the end of the 15-week specialization, the learners will reach the following proficiency: 1000 words, 75 language points, and handling 30 real-life situations.

Basic Mandarin Chinese – Level 1
By MandarinX via edX

Take the first step towards learning Mandarin Chinese, the most commonly spoken language in the world.
Introductory Mandarin is the first in a series of six courses designed to teach you how to speak Mandarin Chinese. This course will introduce you to the basic language you will need to eat, live, and get around in Mandarin speaking countries.

Since this is a language course, we recommend taking this course with a friend or group of friends. Practicing with others by speaking the language will help you learn it more effectively. Additionally, Mandarin is a tonal language, which means that in order to truly master it, you will need to say the words out loud! Join the community of over 900 million native Mandarin speakers and start learning today!

Basic Mandarin Chinese – Level 2
By MandarinX via edX

Learn Mandarin Chinese with practice in extensive vocabulary, phrases and sentence structures used in daily communication in Mandarin Chinese.
In the second course of the Mandarin Chinese language series, you will learn extensive vocabulary for describing people and objects, making comparisons, and stating your own perspectives by using complex and varied sentence structures.

Learners will focus on tones and intonation with designed practices and learn to build dialogues for everyday communication. After this Mandarin Chinese language course, you will be able to communicate in Mandarin speaking countries without difficulties.

Supplementary tools or materials are recommended if you would like to learn written language and stroke orders of Chinese characters.

Mandarin Chinese for Business
By MandarinX via edX

Learn common Mandarin Chinese business phrases and understand Chinese culture so you can communicate professionally in the largest market in the world.
Take the next step in learning Mandarin Chinese and expand your language skills so you can effectively communicate in Chinese business.

In this language training MOOC, you will learn common phrases and scenarios of business and negotiation in Chinese speaking countries. You will also learn about Chinese business culture and etiquette and the needs of businessmen and women.

This course was developed with the assistance of Haohsiang Liao, Director of the Chinese Language Program at MIT.

Basic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese is required.

Chinese for Beginners
By Peking University via Coursera

Nowadays, there is an increasing number of people who are interested in Chinese culture and language. And it is useful to know about the language when coming to China for travel or business. This is an ABC Chinese course for beginners, including introduction of phonetics and daily expressions. After taking this class, learners can have a basic understanding of Chinese Mandarin and make basic conversations of daily living such as exchanging personal information, talking about daily arrangements and food, asking about price, introducing the city and the weather, telling your hobbies etc. Selected topics and situations come from real life scenarios and can be used for everyday communications. In addition to the dialogues, the selection of reading materials and practice activities will make the content as rich and varied as possible, in order to stimulate the learners’ interests. This is an elementary course on Chinese speaking. The learners don’t need to study Chinese characters, so it is easier to follow and complete this course.

More Chinese for Beginners
By Peking University via Coursera

This is an advanced course for Chinese for beginners. Learners will expand vocabularies about personal information, daily life, food and drink, healthy, and expressions about greeting, suggestion, agreement, comparison, complaint, prohibition, experience, plan, recommendation, etc. Learners can improve their listening and speaking and know much more about Chinese social cultures. As the same as Chinese for beginners, the course doesn’t ask the learners to know Chinese characters. Recommended Background: For learners with certain English language ability and better have attended Chinese for beginners.

Tsinghua Chinese: Start Talking with 1.3 Billion People
By Tsinghua University via edX

Beginners' Chinese course from China's top university

This introductory Chinese language course will emphasize basic language skills for everyday life in Mandarin speaking countries.

The course utilizes pinyin, the standard system of Romanized spelling for transliterating Chinese, so learners will find it easy to understand and study the language.

The course is composed of several parts: Dialogues (taught through pinyin), listening comprehension exercises (in real-world situations), Chinese characters (frequently used in daily life), Mandarin songs, and Tea Time (tips for self-study).

This course is for anyone interested in learning Mandarin Chinese, especially if you plan to work or study in Mandarin-speaking countries. The course is also a good start toward the HSK Chinese proficiency test.

Learn Chinese: HSK Test Preparation Specialization
By Peking University via Coursera

This specialization consists of three elementary language courses, aims to improve your Chinese language skills effectively and systematically. This specialization introduces everyday language and includes activities to practice all four language skill: conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. You will learn about Chinese culture and basic Chinese Characters more, will possess the ability to further your Chinese language studies.
After completing this specialization, learners can communicate in Chinese at a basic level in their daily, academic and professional lives. Learners can manage most communication in Chinese when traveling in China.We aim for you to have a practical grasp of Chinese that will allow you to converse confidently in Chinese.

Chino básico: Lenguage y cultura empresarial Specialization
By By Arizona State University via Coursera

Participar en conversaciones cotidianas, usar frases prácticas en un viaje a la China, expandir su conocimiento acerca de la cultura china. Este Programa Especializado ofrece tres cursos que cubren temas prácticos como el lenguaje que se usa en un viaje a la China, conversaciones cotidianas, y vocabulario relacionado con los negocios. Para el proyecto final, usted creará una serie de videos con conversaciones sobre los temas aprendidos en clase, demostrando así sus habilidades en el idioma chino.

First Step Korean
By Yonsei University via Coursera

This is an elementary-level Korean language course, consisting of 5 lessons with 4 units, and covers 4 skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The main topics include basic expressions used in everyday life, such as greetings, introducing yourself, talking about your family and a daily life and so on. Each lesson covers dialogues, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, quizzes and role-plays. After completing this course, you will be able to 1. read and write Korean alphabet. 2. communicate in Korean with basic expressions. 3. learn basic knowledge on Korean culture. It’s fun and easy to follow! Enjoy it!

Learn to Speak Korean 1
By Yonsei University via Coursera

Welcome to Learn to Speak Korean 1! This course is for beginner students who are familiar with the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. Through this course students will learn the skills essential for daily interactions with Koreans while living in Korea. This course consists of six modules, and each module is composed of five units. Each unit has vocabulary, grammar and expressions, conversation practice, video clips, quizzes, a workbook, and vocabulary lists. In order to assist students with their independent studies, Korean learning materials such as lecture notes, workbooks, and vocabulary lists detailing each day’s lecture are also provided. The vocabulary lists are accompanied by English, Chinese, and Japanese translations. I hope that you enjoy all this program has to offer over the next six weeks. After studying in this program, you will be able to have a real Korean conversation with your newly acquired knowledge of the Korean language. Thank you!

On-Ramp to AP* French Language and Culture
By Weston High School via edX

A three week class to boost your confidence before starting your AP French Language and Culture class.

Students who enroll in the French Language and Culture AP class must be ready to engage right from the beginning of the year in oral and written communication. The basis of the French grammar must be solid and the idea behind this course is to solidify these basis to allow student to enter the class with a strong foundation that will allow them to start communicating from the beginning of the school year, keeping the grammar to a minimal amount of review during the course of the school year.

Paroles de FLE {Français Langue Etrangère}
By Université de Nantes via FUN

Avec plus de 200 millions de francophones, le français fait sans conteste partie des langues les plus utilisées dans le monde. Si vous souhaitez vous perfectionner et surtout mieux comprendre la langue française à l'oral, alors ce MOOC est fait pour vous.

En effet, vous y poursuivrez deux objectifs principaux :

• mieux comprendre le français à l'oral dans différentes situations (exemples : une conversation, un reportage télévisé, etc...). Vous pourrez interagir et vous entraîner avec d'autres locuteurs de français sur les espaces d'échanges du MOOC ;
• acquérir des stratégies d'écoute pour faciliter la compréhension de documents abordant des sujets variés et comprenant des accents, des voix, des rythmes variés.

Italian for Beginners
By The Open University via FutureLearn

This program of six free online Italian courses, created by The Open University, will help you develop your skills in Italian at a basic level, and introduce you to Italy and its language and culture.

Whether you want to learn Italian to go on holiday, for work or study, or simply to learn a new language, this Italian for Beginners program will help you discover one of Europe’s most beautiful languages, and the diverse and fascinating world of Italy and its regions and culture.

The program is designed for learners with no prior knowledge of Italian, and provides a solid foundation at level A1 of the CEFR.

Italian Language and Culture: Beginner
By Wellesley College via edX

Learn the basics of the Italian language and culture through videos, podcasts, interviews, and much more.

In this language course you will learn the four basic skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) in the context of major themes in Italian culture. By the end of the course you will be able to describe people, events and situations, both in the present and the past, and you will have acquired the necessary vocabulary to communicate about everyday situations.

Italian Language and Culture: Intermediate
By Wellesley College via edX

Improve your Italian language skills and expand your vocabulary while you learn about Italian art, literature and contemporary society.

In this language course, you will enhance your Italian language skills, enrich your vocabulary and expand your conversational skills. You will learn how to have exchanges on a variety of topics, and continue your immersion in the Italian culture through unique videos and interviews. You will also become more confident as you continue practicing your reading and writing skills.

Italian Language and Culture: Advanced
By Wellesley College via edX

Enhance your knowledge of the Italian language and learn about Italy’s culture and history including theater, opera and the poet Dante.

Learn how to perfect your skills in Italian (speaking, listening, reading and writing), and by the end of this course you will be able to express opinions and hypotheses, and sustain an argument using a variety of registers. You will also expand your vocabulary to include topics beyond everyday conversation.

Spanish for Beginners
By The Open University via FutureLearn

This program of six free online Spanish courses, created by The Open University, will help you develop your skills in Spanish at a basic level and introduce you to the Spanish-speaking world.

Whether you want to learn Spanish to go on holiday, use it for work or study, or simply give your brain a boost, this Spanish for Beginners program will help you discover one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, and the fascinating cultures and peoples of the Spanish-speaking world.

The program is designed for learners with no prior knowledge of Spanish, and provides a solid foundation at level A1 of the CEFR.

AP® Spanish Language and Culture
By St. Margaret’s Episcopal School via edX

Perfect your Spanish speaking and writing skills while learning about the cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world to prepare for the AP* Spanish Language and Culture exam.

AP® Spanish Language and Culture is a challenging course taught exclusively in Spanish that helps students to improve their proficiency across the three modes of communication: Interpretive, Interpersonal and Presentational. This course is designed to help you prepare for the AP exam, and focuses on the integration of authentic resources including online print, audio, and audiovisual resources, as well as traditional print resources such as literature, essays, and magazine and newspaper articles. Students will communicate using advanced vocabulary and linguistic structures as they build proficiency in all modes of communication toward the advanced level. Class is conducted completely in Spanish and includes frequent writing and integration of skills with a review of grammatical structures, which are troublesome for second-language learners. Advanced organizational and analytical strategies are taught, and students will complete the course feeling better prepared to take the AP exam.

Learn Spanish: Basic Spanish for English Speakers
By Universitat Politècnica de Valencia via edX

Learn Spanish and explore Spanish culture in this introductory language course, designed for English speakers.

This 16-week Spanish language course is aimed at students who would like to learn conversational Spanish starting with Spanish basics. The course introduces everyday language and includes activities to practice all four language skills: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking.

After completing this course, you will be prepared to introduce yourself, ask basic questions, and conduct a brief conversation in Spanish.

This course uses reference materials, cultural notes, grammar explanations, functions of language, etc. Students will be able to monitor their progress by taking a number of performance tests and a final achievement test.

Curso de português para estrangeiros
By Universidade Regional de Blumenau via MiriadaX

Este curso tem como objetivo principal aprimorar nos estrangeiros interessados em aprender a lingua portuguesa, as habilidades de audição, escrita, leitura e interpretação de texto, com foco em situações do cotidiano e na cultura brasileira.
Este curso tem como proposta oferecer aos interessados em praticar o português brasileiro, um ambiente interativo, atraente e colaborativo de modo que os participantes possam compreender, de
forma básica, um pouco da língua e dos costumes dos brasileiros. O curso é dividido em quatro módulos intitulados: Futebol, Alimentação, Casa e Arte. Nestas unidades são abordadas, além das funções comunicativas, a gramática de maneira prática e facilitada. O MOOC utiliza vídeos, textos, atividades de gameficação e colaborativas que auxiliam na aprendizagem e estimulam o participante na permanência e continuação do curso. Os participantes devem ter conhecimento prévio básico da língua portuguesa em nível A2 (Quadro de Referência Europeu). Espera-se que os interessados tenham condições de ampliar sua competência comunicativa facilitando a convivência com os falantes nativos.

Introduction to Dutch
By University of Groningen via FutureLearn

Learn to speak, write and understand basic Dutch, with this free, three-week, introductory foreign language course.
Are you planning to visit, or work or study in the Netherlands soon? This free online course is perfect if you have little or no prior knowledge of Dutch, but would like to master the fundamentals in order to survive life in the Low Countries.
Learn basic Dutch
The course will run over three weeks, helping you to:

• introduce yourself and get to know other learners
• talk about your family, friends, work and study
• and experience life in the Netherlands.

Speak, write and understand useful Dutch
During the course, you will learn Dutch phrases, greetings, vocabulary, numbers, spelling and grammar. Being able to understand the language will make everyday activities, such as shopping or going out to a restaurant, much more enjoyable.

By the end of the course, you will be able to recognise familiar words and phrases about yourself and your family. You will be taught to use simple sentences to describe where you live and the people you know.

Finally, you will be able to write short texts such as an email or fill in forms with personal details. The main focus will be on receptive skills such as reading and listening.

Introduction to Frisian
By University of Groningen via FutureLearn

Learn to speak, write and understand the second official language of the Netherlands with this free introductory language course.

Did you know that, besides Dutch, a second official language is spoken in the Netherlands? It’s a language even more closely related to English than Dutch. This language is called Frisian.

Maybe you’re interested in minority languages. Or perhaps you’re keen to learn the language that is considered to be very close to English. Or it could be that you have Frisian roots or plan to visit the beautiful province of Friesland and would like to understand the local language.

Whatever your reason, this free online course is perfect if you have little or no prior knowledge of Frisian, but would like to master the fundamentals of the language considered to be ‘the nearest cousin of English’.