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12 Sites for Taking Free English Classes
Alison
(Access over 3000 high-quality courses)
Alison was founded in 2007 and is reputable for equipping over 20 million learners from 195 countries with free online skills.
The platform has over 3000 high-quality courses in language, sales & marketing, management, health, business, personal development, and Teaching.
Alison also offers free basic English courses to study phrases, master verbs, adjectives, nouns, adverbs, and tenses.
You can get crucial skills to help you;
- Perfect your English for study
- Write up research
- Pitch a screenplay
- Apply for a job.
Examples of basic English courses include;
- Beginner Level English
- Diploma in English Language for Business and Tourism
- Diploma in Basic English Grammar
- Beginner Level English Course-Past Simple
- An introduction to Proofreading
- English Grammar and Vocabulary
You can choose to do certificates, diploma courses, and learning paths. For learning on the go, you can download the app from iOS and Android.
After completing a course, you can download your digital certificate or transcript. Even though the courses are free, they will charge you $46.32 to $89.08 to get a certificate.
FutureLearn
(Learning resources for over 10 million learners)
FutureLearn is a British-based website founded in 2012 to offer online courses to students globally.
FutureLearn provides a series of English courses to enable you to specialize your skills.
For example, you’ll not pay to enroll for Teaching English Online, which is a four-week course with skills such as writing and reading.
Other courses such as Lessons and Teaching require learners to join a free seven-day trial and pay up to $39 for the full course.
Examples of free English classes you will find on the platform include;
- English for Academic Study
- Basic English 2
- English Grammar for Teachers
- English for Healthcare
- Exploring English: Food and Culture
- Understanding IELTS: Listening, Reading & Speaking
- Teaching English / TEFL
For unlimited access where you can attempt assignments and earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade your subscription.
FutureLearns partners with world-leading universities, including;
- University of Aberdeen
- The University of Auckland
- University of Birmingham
- Bond University
- University of Colorado
- University of Groningen
After the course, they will award you a certificate of Achievement with your test score and transcript.
MOOEC
(Access a database of 3000 courses from top universities)
MOOEC an initiative of International Education Services was started in Brisbane, Australia, to offer open English courses at all proficiency levels including;
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
- Short courses such as; Elementary English Course
Moreover, MOOEC has a database of free online English courses from top universities and colleges.
To get started, you need to register with your details and after confirmation, you can access the courses including;
- Elementary English Course
- Grammar Guru
- Common Mistakes
- Adelaide Sounds Good
- Prepositions
- Looking for a New Place to Live
- Coastal Ecosystems
Udemy
(Access a library of over 32,000 courses)
Udemy Summary
- Wide target audience of learners
- Earn passive income from your courses
- Get your payments within 1 to 2 days
- Short minimum course duration (30 min)
Udemy is an online platform where instructors create and upload courses. On the other hand, learners can enroll for free or pay up to $199, depending on the course.
It has been around since 2010 and has over 50,000 courses in 65 plus languages.
You can learn English for free by browsing through the courses. For example:
| Course | Tutor |
| 14-day English language fluency course | Joel South |
| How to Self-Study English Online | Nikki Joslin |
| English Made Simple: Verbs & Prepositions | Langpill |
| English Made Simple: Verbs & Prepositions | Fred Williams |
edX
(Access a Catalogue of over 3000 courses)
edX is a web-based platform that hosts over 3000 free online courses from leading global universities such as Boston University, Harvard University, Delft University, and the University of Texas System.
You can find free English Lessons on the platform for native and non-native speakers, and these include;
- Conversational English Skills
- English for Journalists Part 1 & 2
- Using Email for Networking in English
- Preparing to Network in English
- How to write an Essay
Upon completion, you can request a free audit or a verified certificate by paying $50 to $300 per course.
Open Learning
(Access over 1000 courses in 8 languages)
Open Learning is a UK-based learning institution under Open University, founded in 2006 to offer online courses to learners across the globe.
They have free courses in all subjects including Money & Business, Languages, Science, Maths and technology.
In addition, you can enroll in short English courses, including;
- Business English: Making decisions
- Presenting the decision in Business English
- Business English: Researching a new location
- English grammar in context
- Exploring languages and cultures
- English: skills for Learning
When you sign up for OpenLearn, you can access your achievements and personal learning profile.
American English
(Get over 10 programs for learning English)
American English is a unit under the United States Department of State that runs programs such as;
- Online Professional English Network Program or OPEN whose mandate is to provide online opportunities to learners, professionals and foreign tutors.
- English Access Microscholarship Program
- Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program
- English Language Fellow Program for US educators
OPEN offers free English courses if you meet the following eligibility requirements;
- Be a citizen of nominating country
- Must not have dual citizenship
- Have up to ten hours every week for coursework
- Have reliable internet connection
- Understand English technical terms
- Be able to submit assignments on time
When you join the OPEN program, you can access the following resources;
- Webinars
- English club texts and materials
- Teacher’s corner
- Comics for language learning
My MOOC
(Access over 2900 courses from edX)
MOOC, also known as Massive Open Online Courses and hosts over 2900 from edX. The model delivers online content for learners to take courses on their own time.
When you click on the courses, you’ll be redirected to the edX website, where you can enroll.
The categories of courses under this platform range from Finance, Computer Science, Economics, Languages, and Big Data.
You can take free online English classes that incorporate writing, composition, grammar, and conversation.
Canvas Network
(Get free courses from over 140 learning institutions)
Canvas Network is a platform that offers online courses taught by qualified instructors. The mission is to provide the instructors with the right skills to succeed in their careers.
The platform runs an open system where learners can access the content anywhere. When you join the program, you can choose a course from the catalog.
You may receive a certificate of completion from the sponsoring institution. However, Canvas doesn’t offer participation certificates.
ESOL Courses
(Access quizzes and reading exercises for over 1000 courses)
ESOL Courses, also known as English for Speakers of Other Languages is an England-based platform that offers free online English courses for learners and teachers.
They also provide free self-study courses for students as well as classroom resources for the teachers.
When you enroll, you’ll have access to;
- Reading exercises
- Quizzes
- Games
The program doesn’t have live tutors, and there are no one-on-one classroom lessons. You can find the courses on the platform and choose your preferred option. However, you won’t get a certificate after completion.
Coursera
(Access courses from over 200 leading institutions)
Coursera is a web-based platform that hosts online courses from over 200 learning institutions and top companies, including;
- Yale University
- Dure University
- Imperial College London
- University of Michigan
- Arizona State University
- Google (Company)
- IBM (company)
The courses are free, and you can access the catalog which contains lessons such as;
- Human resources
- SQL
- Web Design
- Speaking English
- Communication Skills
You can also download the Coursera app from Google Play or the Playstore and access the English courses on the go.
Learn English Online
(Attempt up to 25 multiple choice questions per skill)
Learn English Online is a platform under the British Council that equips learners with resources to learn and improve the English language.
Examples of resources available on this platform include a free level test to help you determine your English level.
The quiz contains 25 multiple choice questions lasting up to 20 minutes. The results depend on your level, including beginner, intermediate and upper-intermediate.
The English online courses are 100% teacher-oriented courses and offer personalized sessions. If you are an international student, you can find valuable resources on understanding IELTS.
Other resources you can find in this platform include;
- Video series
- Audios
- Magazines
- Stories
Free English Classes FAQs
Can one get a certificate after completing free english classes?
Free English classes platforms may provide a certificate after completion. However, it depends on the platform or learning program.
Some platforms such as edX allow learners to request a free audit of their certificates after completion. However, you’ll part with up to $300 per course to access a verified certificate.
On the other hand, some platforms such as Canvas Network allow learners to receive certificates from the sponsoring institutions. ESOL doesn’t offer any certificate after completion.
Can one use the skills from free english classes to apply for jobs?
Free English classes enable learners to acquire skills to improve their language proficiency. These skills can boost your career prospects depending on your expertise.
Some careers such as copywriting, journalism, editor, teaching, and communication require a high proficiency in the English language. Therefore the English courses can improve your skills and help you navigate your career.
