Category — Education

Learning online is great because it’s free. But how do you keep yourself disciplined and motivated? Here are a few tips to keep yourself motivated:

1. Set aside a regular 30-minute block in your day for language learning. Set a reminder in your online calendar, to make sure you don’t forget.
2. Find 3 - 4 native speakers at MyHappyPlanet.com with whom you can practice regularly. Set weekly practice sessions with each of your partners, to maintain a routine.
3. Be creative in your learning methods. Yes, picking up a book is effective, but it can be really boring. Why not watch a movie in the language you’re learning?
4. Plan a trip abroad. Not only will you get to practice your language skills there, but the trip will keep you motivated. It will give you a great goal to aim for (e.g. “I must brush up my French before my trip to Paris this summer!)

Hope this helps with your language learning journey. Good luck!

A lot of our members at MyHappyPlanet, esp. those learning English, are interested in learning the language to pursue further studies in an English-speaking country, such as the US or the UK. But with the visa regulations getting tighter and tighter, studying abroad may not be the best option.

The good news is that online education has become an accepted method of obtaining a degree. For example, online MBA’s have become increasingly popular in the last decade. While online degrees are not for everyone, they certainly offer a number of benefits, especially for foreign students who want to earn an American or British education.

The first advantage is cost. A two-year full-time on-campus MBA program at Harvard University can cost up to $150,000. But the average online MBA costs only $32,000, one-fifth of the price. And that does not even take into account the salary you’re foregoing by leaving your job to pursue a full-time MBA. If you’re looking to enhance your career without disrupting your personal life, then obtaining a degree online is a great option.

The second advantage is that you don’t need to apply for a student visa to obtain an online degree. The global political situation has made it increasingly difficult to obtain a visa to study abroad. The UK, for example, recently tightened its visa regulations. To apply for a General Student Visa (GSV), students now need to show proof that their English level is intermediate according to the Common European Framework of Reference.

While there are a lot of advantages, there are disadvantages too and online degrees are not for everyone. For example, others stress the importance of face-to-face learning. Networking and teamwork are critical factors that can be lost in online education. On the plus side, online students report they learn greater networking and teamwork skills because they are not limited geographically.

In the end, the most important thing is to ensure that you pick the right program for you. Unfortunately you can’t depend on name recognition or price to determine which program suits your needs. You can begin by checking a program’s accreditation, or browse the rankings of online programs.

Some MyHappyPlanet members write to us soon after joining, and ask, “so how do I start learning my new language?” If you are unsure how to get started, here are some tips:

• If you haven’t already, fill out the rest of your profile. Other members will find you more interesting if you add a photo and your interests, so be sure to complete those areas at least.  You’re much more likely to receive help from other members if you complete your profile.
• Find a friend.  On the Friends tab, you will see other MyHappyPlanet members who can help you with your new language.  Read some of their profiles, and find some that you would like to practice with.  We’ve sorted them so the best matches are near the top, but you can browse as many profiles as you like.
• Once you’ve found some interesting members, send them a message by clicking on the appropriate link next to their profile.  When sending a message, be sure to talk a little about yourself, and ask questions — in your chosen language if you can, but if not your partner should be able to speak your native language at least a little.  You can even teach them a thing or two! If you’re unsure of what to write, ask them to teach you some basic words and what they mean.
• Once you’ve sent a few messages, check out the Lessons and Videos areas while you wait for responses to your messages.  MyHappyPlanet will notify you by email whenever someone replies to your message, so you can write back and continue practicing your new foreign language.
• Teach someone else.  You can help other members learn your native language, too.  After all, someone helped you get started, so it would be very nice of you to return the favor.  When members contact you for help, respond to their messages and teach them about where you are from and some phrases in your language.

These simple steps will help you get started learning on MyHappyPlanet, and before you know it you will be helping others.