English is the most popular language to learn in the classroom. Two-thirds of the people who speak it learn it as a second language. In fact, it is the non-native speakers who have made English the most spoken language on earth.

As you might imagine, most people who sign up for English as a second language (ESL) courses do so at a college or a university. But over the past few years technology has made these courses more affordable and accessible to busy students. Believe it or not, English teachers and telephone classes are quite popular these days.

With the advent of the Smartphone, more mobile phone users are accessing the internet on a daily basis. Some of them are even taking online classes over the phone. What are the benefits? The most obvious advantage is that telephone courses are incredibly convenient. People can listen to prerecorded lectures and tutorials whenever they have free time.

Most of these courses are supported by Skype, which is a software application that lets users make calls over the internet. Because these calls are made online and over the phone, they are quite cheap. The technology is typically referred to as VOIP or voice over internet protocol.

Should you take English courses online, over the phone, or in person? If you have the time and a reliable mode of transportation, we strongly suggest that you take language courses in person. As convenient and affordable as they are, internet and phone courses cannot compare with having access to a real teacher.