Coursera

A good teacher is one that encourages students to continue learning language even outside of classes. It is important to recommended good platforms and resources to students, ones that will benefit the students and improve their language skills. Coursera, an online platform, is a good example, as it includes many English courses ranging from academic writing to pronunciation, and even gives certification after successfully finishing each course. It includes courses from well-known universities such as the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University. However, due to the fact that many of the courses are paid and can be quite expensive as well, teachers should petition their universities to provide subscriptions for the   students, so they can have access to it and benefit from all that it offers.

Like any educational platform, Coursera has its pros and cons:

Pros of Coursera:

1- Wide Variety of Courses: Coursera offers a wide range of courses for diverse areas of English academics, from academic English writing to the pronunciation of syllables and so on. Coursera offers learners to find courses that matches their needs and fulfill their interests in any lane of education. 

2- Quality Content: most of Coursera’s courses are provided by high academic universities. Creating high-quality courses for learners. Courses can provide content that includes lessons, questions and answers, quizzes, and assignments. Some resemble traditional teaching in universities by having peer assessments.

3- Flexibility: Coursera is considered convenient due to the reasons that learners can study at anytime, anywhere. This convenience is ideal for learners with any schedule or anyone’s liking. 

4- Certifications: Coursera will provide learners with a certificate once the course is completed. The certification could be useful for exhibiting abilities and expertise to future employers or for professional progress.

5: Global Reach: As a result of its worldwide popularity, Coursera is available to students all around the world. This makes it possible for a diversified atmosphere for education and the chance to interact with students from every community. 

6- Affordable: Despite the fact that some courses do need to be purchased. Coursera offers various free courses for learners. Education on Coursera frequently costs less than standard university fees.

7- Mobile App: The mobile app from Coursera advances the platform's accessibility and simplicity by enabling learners to access the course’s content whenever and wherever they are.

Cons of Coursera:

1. Cost: While Coursera does offer free some courses, many of its courses require payment. The courses can be very expensive, and the cost can add up if a student enrolls in multiple courses for multiple skills as well.

2. Lack of Personalization: Coursera's courses are designed for a broad audience, which can make it difficult to target specific areas that students need improvement in.

3. Limited Interaction: While some courses have peer interactions and discussion forums, most of the learning is done individually. This may be isolating especially when compared to traditional classrooms. This environment is also not ideal for language learning, because that requires interactions.

4. Internet Dependence: Coursera requires an internet connection for accessing course materials, which makes it not very useful for learners in areas with no internet connection or limited internet access.

5. Time Commitment: Self-paced learning can be hard for some students who may not have discipline or have difficulties with time management. Without teachers setting deadlines like in a traditional classroom, some students may never finish the courses.

6. Limited Practical Experience: Coursera courses typically focus on theoretical knowledge and lacks practical work. This can be a limitation for learning or improving skills such as speaking.

In conclusion, Coursera is an excellent online learning tool with numerous benefits, but not all students will consider it to be their ideal choice. Teachers should still promote Coursera and encourage their students to make the most of this site for a better educational experience.

Links:

Website:

https://www.coursera.org

App for iPhone:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coursera-learn-career-skills/id736535961

App for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.coursera.android&pcampaignid=web_share

References:

https://upskillwise.com/reviews/coursera/

https://www.zdnet.com/education/breaking-down-coursera/