Choosing the right online language course: a checklist for reputable providers

What types of online language course are there?

“Online language course” is an umbrella term for four very different kinds of offer: language apps with short exercises and automatic feedback, video courses with recorded lessons, teacher marketplaces where you choose individual teachers, and online language schools with live lessons, a regular teacher and a study plan. Know which kind you want before comparing.

Many learners combine several of these, for example an app for daily vocabulary revision and a live course for speaking and feedback. That makes sense as long as it is clear which tool does which job. Problems arise when an app is expected to replace lessons: it reliably tells you whether a word is spelt correctly, but not whether your answer in a conversation was appropriate, clear and polite.

Apps and video courses work well as a supplement. If you want to learn to speak with confidence, you need live lessons with a qualified teacher. This is the format we offer in our online language courses for individuals, and it is what the following checklist mainly refers to.

How do you recognise a reputable online language school?

You recognise a reputable online language school above all by its teachers, the most important quality factor in any language course. Ask about degrees or recognised teaching certificates, selection, lesson observations and training, a regular teacher with the option to change, and academic management. A slick platform is of little use if the person on camera has no teacher training.

Questions you should ask

• What qualifications do the teachers have, such as a degree or a recognised teaching certificate?
• How are teachers selected, and how often are their lessons observed or are they given further training?
• Will I have a regular teacher, or will it change from lesson to lesson?
• Can I change teacher if it is not a good fit?
• Is there academic management responsible for study plans and materials?

For context: at choices®, teachers from 10 countries teach our courses, and about 1 in 25 applicants passes our selection process. Teaching methodology is the responsibility of a methodology team led by our Head of Studies, Łukasz Pakuła. All our teachers are trained, and when a teacher changes, there is always a structured handover so that your course continues smoothly. Find out more about how we work on our About us page.

Native speaker or not?

“Native speakers only” sounds good, but it is not a mark of quality in itself. What matters is excellent command of the language, teacher training and experience with learners who share your first language. A teacher who knows why German speakers say I am here since Monday, or why speakers of your language make their typical mistakes, corrects you in a more targeted way.

Placement test and needs analysis: starting your online language course

A good course does not start with Unit 1 but with the question of where you are now and where you want to go. Reputable providers assess your level before the course begins, ideally with a test and a short conversation, because speaking cannot be measured on paper. This assessment is the basis for a realistic study plan.

The common yardstick in Europe is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), whose level descriptions are published by the Council of Europe. A provider should be able to tell you which CEFR level you have reached in each skill. Our article on CEFR levels A1 to C2 explains what the levels mean, and language placement tests describes how placement tests work.

What a needs analysis should clarify

• Your goal in concrete situations (travel, work, an exam, family)
• Your weekly time budget and when you want to reach your goal
• Your strengths and weaknesses in listening, reading, speaking and writing
• Your previous learning experiences and preferences

Providers that put you straight into a running course without any assessment are saving money in the wrong place.

Checking group size and lesson format in an online language course

Group size determines how much you speak. One-to-one lessons give maximum speaking time; in our view, four people is the ideal group size, and six is the sensible upper limit for speaking courses. With ten or more participants, speaking time per person is often minimal. Also check whether a lesson lasts 45, 30 or only 25 minutes.

• One-to-one lessons: usually the most effective format, with maximum speaking time
• Small group of four: in our view, the ideal for groups
• Up to six people: the sensible upper limit for speaking courses
• More than eight people: more of a lecture than conversation practice

A detailed comparison, including a calculation of speaking time, is available in one-to-one lessons or a group course.

Length of a lesson

Check how long a “lesson” actually is. Lessons of 45 minutes are standard, but some providers count 25 or 30 minutes. You can only compare prices if you know the length.

Prices, contracts and the right of withdrawal for online language courses

Transparent prices and terms are a clear sign of a reputable provider. Before booking, check the price per lesson including VAT and lesson length, minimum terms and notice periods, cancellation deadlines, whether paid lessons expire and the cost of materials. For contracts concluded online, consumers in Germany generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal. In detail:

• Is the price per lesson clearly stated, including VAT and the length of the lesson?
• Are there minimum terms, automatic renewals or notice periods?
• How far in advance can I cancel or reschedule lessons free of charge?
• Do paid lessons expire after a certain time?
• Are materials included in the price?

At choices®, prices for individuals start from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45-minute lesson, with no hidden extra costs for the needs analysis.

Know your right of withdrawal

If you conclude a contract online as a consumer, you generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal in Germany. The Regional Court of Bielefeld ruled back in 2012, in proceedings brought by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations, that this also applies to online courses, as the vzbv reports (in German). Read the provider’s cancellation policy carefully, especially regarding what happens if lessons already start within the withdrawal period. This section is general information and not legal advice.

Technology and learning platform: what good online lessons need

Online lessons depend on technology, but you do not need a studio. A stable internet connection, a headset with a microphone, a laptop or tablet, a quiet room and an up-to-date browser are enough. The provider should offer a simple, privacy-compliant platform, material you can access afterwards, notes on mistakes and help with a first test.

Your checklist

• a stable internet connection, ideally via cable or with good Wi-Fi reception
• a headset with a microphone rather than laptop speakers, to avoid echo
• a laptop or tablet; avoid a smartphone for longer lessons if possible
• a quiet room where people are not walking through
• an up-to-date browser or the software named by the provider

What the provider should offer

• a simple, privacy-compliant video platform without complicated installation
• shared digital material that you can access after the lesson too
• a written summary or notes on new words and mistakes
• help with your first technical test

One advantage of online lessons is that where you live does not matter. Whether you live in Nuremberg, Augsburg, Vienna or a village without a language school, the choice is the same.

Your trial lesson in an online language course: what to look out for

A trial lesson or first consultation is the best opportunity to assess a provider. Look beyond whether you liked the teacher and check five points: did you speak more than the teacher? Were mistakes picked up without constant interruptions? Was the lesson about your goal? Was there a clear structure? And do you know afterwards how the course will continue?

1. Speaking time: did you speak more than the teacher?
2. Correction: were mistakes picked up without you being interrupted all the time?
3. Link to your goal: did the teacher ask about your needs and choose examples from them?
4. Structure: was there a clear structure and a short summary at the end?
5. Next steps: do you know afterwards how the course will continue and what you will work on?

Questions to ask in your trial lesson

Comparing online language courses: a scoring matrix to fill in

Once you have shortlisted two or three providers, it is easy to lose track. A simple scoring matrix helps you separate gut feeling from facts. Give each criterion zero to three points and multiply by the weighting. Then add up the totals, and you have a clear basis for comparing providers side by side.

You can adjust the weighting to your situation. If you work shifts, give flexibility more weight; if you have an exam ahead, give progress checks more weight. Rate all providers against the same criteria.

Typical thinking errors when comparing

• Comparing apples with oranges: 25 minutes of teaching is not the same as 45 minutes, even if both are called a “lesson”.
• Overrating the introductory discount: what matters is the price over the whole course.
• Only looking at reviews: star ratings say little about whether a course suits your goal.
• Underestimating your own role: even the best course only works if you attend regularly and do some self-study.

Warning signs: when to be careful with an online language course

Be careful with guarantees of success within days, no placement test, unclear prices, pressure to sign, a missing legal notice (Impressum), reviews without substance and promises of certificates without an exam. Moving up one level takes well over a hundred hours of study, depending on the level, and recognised certificates come only from independent exam providers. So be sceptical of:

• Guarantees such as “fluent in 30 days”: moving up one level takes well over a hundred hours of study, depending on the level. Our article How long does it take to learn English? gives realistic figures.
• No placement test: a provider that does not want to know where you stand cannot support you properly.
• Unclear prices: for example, prices without VAT, without the lesson length or with long compulsory packages.
• Pressure to sign: “today only” discounts on long-term contracts.
• A missing Impressum or an unclear company address.
• Reviews without substance: read a few detailed accounts rather than lots of star ratings without text.
• Promises of certificates without an exam: a certificate of attendance is not a recognised language certificate. Recognised certificates are taken with independent exam providers; we prepare you for them in our exam preparation.

The checklist above makes the decision easier. If you would also like to use AI tools as a supplement, read learning English with AI, and if you are returning after a long break, you will find tips in refreshing your English as an adult. You will find our courses in English, German and many other languages in our courses for adults, and German specifically under online German courses. Questions? Our contact page is the quickest way to reach us.

Sources

1. vzbv.de: widerrufsrecht gilt auch fuer online kurse
2. coe.int: level descriptions

Frequently asked questions