IELTS Speaking – a skill you picked up through the internet

All the time! Just recently, I watched a short tutorial on how to replace the battery in my watch, which saved me a trip to the repair shop. I also use videos to pick up new recipes. What I like is that you can pause and rewind as many times as you need, which you can't really do with a human teacher.

Mainly a flashcard app for vocabulary, because it reminds me to review words just before I'm likely to forget them. For more in-depth learning, I use free university lectures that are available online. I also listen to podcasts on my commute, which is a painless way to squeeze in some extra listening practice.

For serious study, I still prefer a printed book. I find I absorb information better when I can underline things and write notes in the margins, and there are no notifications popping up to distract me. That said, screens are unbeatable for quick reference or for subjects that need visuals, like learning a dance move.

I'd really like to learn basic video editing. I take a lot of clips when I travel, but they just sit on my phone because I don't know how to turn them into something worth watching. There are loads of free beginner courses out there, so it's mostly a matter of finding the time.

The skill I'd like to describe is touch typing, which means typing quickly without looking at the keyboard. I learned it about two years ago using a free typing website. The site gives you short exercises that focus on one group of letters at a time, and it tracks your speed and accuracy, so you can actually see yourself improving. Later on, I also watched a few videos on a channel run by a former office trainer, who explained how to sit properly and position your hands to avoid wrist pain. It took me roughly six weeks of practising for around twenty minutes a day before I felt comfortable. The first fortnight was honestly frustrating, because I was slower than when I used two fingers, and I was really tempted to give up. But once the muscle memory kicked in, my speed jumped from about thirty words a minute to over sixty. This skill has been far more useful than I expected. As a university student, I write a lot of assignments, and I can now take notes in lectures almost as fast as the lecturer speaks. It has also helped in my part-time job, where I answer customer emails. More importantly, it taught me that sticking with something through the awkward beginner stage really pays off, and that's a lesson I've applied to other things since.

The biggest advantage is flexibility. Learners can study at their own pace and fit lessons around work or family commitments, which is ideal for adults. Online courses are also usually far cheaper, and they give people in remote areas access to teachers from top universities. Another benefit is that you can replay difficult parts as often as you need. For example, a nurse working night shifts could complete a qualification that would be impossible to attend in person.

I think the main reason is the lack of accountability. In a classroom, a teacher notices if you're absent and you don't want to fall behind your classmates, whereas online nobody is checking on you. Many courses are also free or very cheap, so people don't feel they're losing much by quitting. On top of that, learners often underestimate how much self-discipline it takes, and once daily life gets busy, the course is the first thing to go.

I doubt it, at least not completely. Schools do much more than deliver information; they teach children how to cooperate, resolve conflicts and build friendships, which really requires face-to-face contact. They also provide childcare so parents can work. What I can imagine is a blended model, where students cover some theory online at home and then use classroom time for discussion and practical projects. That would combine the strengths of both approaches.

A good first step is to check who is behind the content. Is it written by a recognised expert, a university or a reputable organisation, or by an anonymous account trying to sell something? Learners should also cross-check important facts with two or three independent sources. Another warning sign is when a post relies heavily on emotional language rather than evidence. Personally, I'm always suspicious of anything promising to make me fluent in a language in thirty days.