Studies have shown that the English language is an essential component of communication in over 70 countries and that only holds true with nations that have no less than a population of two billion. Almost 400 million people speak English as their first language while a slightly higher number of people use it as their second language. Three-fourth of a billion people are said to use English as a foreign language, while 25% of the world speak English at various degrees of competence, the other 75% recognize the dire need for it.



English is still very much considered the universal language. It is used in countless industries and venues of communication like literature, motion pictures, and the Internet. And this is probably why people from all over continue to strive to know and understand the language, both written and verbal. Although one cannot ignore how other prominent languages, such as Mandarin and Spanish, are gradually turning into contenders for the universal tongue. The emergence of slang through the years has also caused impediments in the English language. Neglect of correct pronunciation, punctuation, and grammar have made it all the more difficult for people to grasp the language. And all these have only placed more emphasis on the advocacy of proper English usage.

In order to satisfy the demands of those who wish to learn the English language and those who want to get better at it, people have been relying on time-saving and cost-efficient media such as self-help publications and online services. Recently, the appeal of online English courses has significantly increased as more and more people realize that learning the language is only within their reach.

A beginner would might want to try free online English tutorials in websites such as www.1-language.com where there is a list of units to choose from. On this site you will come across quality courses in English. You will also get a chance to interact with students from other countries, share experiences on learning and using English, and practice the skills that you've acquired. The site makes use of lessons that are easily understandable and readily available. As a result, the students are able to promptly arm themselves with skills and concepts of communication, such as basic conversation. Meanwhile, the comprehensive approach is reinforced with a more systematized course provided in the daily online lectures. The syllabus is divided into four levels: starter, elementary, pre-intermediate, and upper intermediate. As a beginner in the study of the language progresses, you will be able to go through each level with competence and complete the modules at your own convenience. Another source you might want to look into would be www.learn-english-online.org. With a simple syllabus to aid the student, learning is made fun and easy. *Bell English* online is also a great site to practice English. All these courses promote an advocacy to mastering the English language.

For brush-up courses such as general and executive English, you can check out bostonlanguage.dli.com. They have comprehensive and interactive programs that cover all areas of language including listening, reading, writing, speech, vocabulary, and grammar. The general English module, for instance, consists of 30 Core Lessons, 15 Listening Skill Builders, and 30 Reading Skill Builders. During the course, they will identify your areas for improvement and simultaneously provide you with personal Feedback Lessons. You would also be able to keep track of your progress through periodical report cards and feedback from a personal online tutor. Before you register, you will be asked to take a placement test that would give you a better idea how you can approach your online studies.

If you are into hitting two birds with one stone, a good place to join free would be at www.englishclub.com where you can learn and teach English at the same time. It provides other unique tools of learning such as forums and chat, educational games, teaching job searches, and online degrees. The site also contains numerous hot links that would bring you to other venues of learning and teaching. With the continuous evolution of technology and communication, learning English with the use of the Internet could be as easy as A-B-C.