Don't Pay for Knowledge: Top-10 Free Online English Language Schools :-))

The axiom & the main principle that is true for all the 10 chosen Online English Language Schools I've examined <<=>> is that they are completely [100%] Free of Charge. Why to pay for the knowledge that one can get for free? :-) The only thing you would have to pay for in some of them – is the speaking practice with the native speakers or English-speaking tutors.

There were 5 main things which I had taken into consideration while compiling this list. Each ''check point'' could be rated in maximum 5 – minimum 1 point[s]. Namely they are:

Registration & Site Navigation
Beginner's level [1 point → only for the beginners; 5 points → any level]
Exercises [1 point → poorly structured; 5 points → easy-to-understand]
Testing Process [1 point → no tests; 5 points → easy-to-go-through]
Practice Possibilities

All in all the rating ''Top-10 Free Online English Language Schools :-))'' looks as follows:

''busuu'' [25 points]
''ABC'' Puzzle English [24 points]
''Lingualeo'' [24 points]
www.study-languages-online.com [16 points]
''Study.RU'' [11 points]
''HomeEnglish'' [10 points]
mir-slov.com [9 points]
hosgeldi.com [8 points]
''L.inguist'' [7 points]
''Begin English'' [5 points]

For my investigation I had chosen to check up the first 2 pages of my Google+ search results for the inquiry “Free Online English Language Schools” [check up the screen-shots in the Supplement #1]. Now it's your turn to look at it & maybe check up on one of them. Thanks ;-)

1. ''busuu'' [www.busuu.com]

1). The site has very ''user-friendly'' interface and an ''easy-to-use'' & simple site navigation. Plus – the site is very easy to register. You can log in using your Google+ or Facebook account profile <<= >> the so-called ''one-click'' registration. For the newbies the site has popping out site navigation prompts.

2). The site presumes different beginning levels: Beginner's level; Elementary; Intermediate; Upper-intermediate; Traveler's course; Business course.

3). The exercises contain interactive and audible material & they also train the writing skills.

4). The tests are intended to examine the three main aspects of the language → listening, writing and reading. Plus – you'll get the points and online bonuses. There is a level test available → you'll even get the ''busuu certificate''.

5). Free online practice → live speaking via Skype with the native speakers.

2. ''ABC'' Puzzle English [puzzle-english.com]

1). The registration can be done in ''one click'' by using one of the existing Social Media Account Profiles [f.ex. Google+, Facebook]. The interface of the site is 100% ''user-friendly'' & very easy to navigate.

2). There are available 3 different levels of training: ''Newcomer'', ''Intermediate'' & ''Experienced'' → You may choose whichever you feel confident of.

3). A ''user-friendly'' interactively animated exercises' dashboard → you will entertain yourself on a bright journey through the various aspects of the English language training exercises.

4). I wouldn't say nothing BUT <<=>> These are the best English level tests I've ever seen. :-)) It's worth mentioning that for the audition tests are taken quotes from the famous movies – like ''Friends'' & ''Doctor House''. All in all – very engaging and entertaining language level testing process.

5). There is a Ton of entertaining & engaging English language practice materials [f.ex. ''Video Puzzles'' & famous modern series].

3. ''Lingualeo'' [http://lingualeo.com/]

1). The registration can be done in ''one click'' by using one of the existing Social Media Account Profiles [f.ex. Google+, Facebook]. The interface of the site is 150% ''user-friendly'' & very easy to navigate.

2). The student's level is being determined in the very beginning by a series of very interesting lively animated & engaging assignments of the widest range → to determine your Vocabulary and Grammar level.

3). Excellent ''user-friendly'' brightly animated & engaging exercises. They are coined to train ALL the possible variants of the word usage & all the 4 aspects of the language: Grammar, Vocabulary, Listening & Writing. What I liked the most → they are made up to train personally yours language skills → I'd learnt 2 new words while testing the site ;-))

4). One undergoes a testing process while making interactive exercises → and get the summary of your present progress.

5). There's lots of entertaining & engaging English Language practice materials which are chosen for you in accordance with your level of English. [f.ex. ''Motivational Video'']

4. http://study-languages-online.com/

1). The site does not have a ''one-click'' registration option but the registration process is quite simple. Besides you'll get quite a nice profile page. It's an ''easy-to-navigate'' site with a ''user-friendly'' interface.

2). there are only 2 available beginner's options: the ''lessons for the beginners'' & the so-called ''Basic course''. There's no language level determining test on this site → the student has to decide him/herself.

3). Quite ''user-friendly'' animated & interesting exercises aimed to train the different aspects of vocabulary usage and grammar. There is a ''Comment'' section → in which is explained the grammar material for each lesson in Russian. You may have to go through it first before taking the exercises → for they are the tests at the same time. After compiling the exercises you'll get your results like ''Status'' [f.ex. ''Good'', ''Very Good'' or ''Perfect''] & the percentage of the correct answers [f.ex. 92%-100%].

4). As I've mentioned above <<=>> the tests are embedded in the ''Exercises'' section.

5). :-(( Unfortunately → there is no speaking practice options and possibilities included on this site :-((

5. ''Study.RU'' [http://www.study.ru/lessons/]

1). The registration is not at all needed. Quite an ''easy-to-navigate'' site. But it can be hardly called a ''user-interface-friendly''.

2). Though there is no special English level test section on this site → the lessons' structure is divided into 5 students' levels of knowledge of the English language: ''Elementary'', ''Pre-intermediate [1]'', ''Pre-intermediate [2]'', ''Intermediate'' & ''Upper-intermediate''. I guess that student has to decide him/herself which level is suitable for him/her.

3). Too many badly-structured & informatively overwhelmed exercises. Moreover, they are presented with in an old-fashioned ''black-and-white'' boring manner & have quite poor assignment descriptions.

4). The tests are included in each exercises' section → But they don't serve any visible purpose <<=>> They neither train your weak sides nor they determine your level of mastering the language.

5). There is a possibility to arrange payed classes with a tutor but only in Moscow. Also there is an option to practice spoken English via Skype → the fees are included.

6. ''HomeEnglish'' [http://www.homeenglish.ru/Lessons.htm]

1). Quite an ''easy-to-navigate'' site. But it's interface can be hardly called a ''user-friendly''.

2). There's no special English level test section on this site.

3). The free lessons and exercises are quite poorly structured → it's unclear for which level of English learner they are intended for. Only video and audio materials are specified.

4). Too many badly structured tests with specified learner's levels which cannot be determined straight ahead on the site [as it was mentioned above].

5). The ''free practice'' of English online means that you'll find more than 20 written topics in English with the Russian translation. No special audio or speaking online activities. Quite poor & unproductive way of practicing the spoken language.

7. mir-slov.com [http://mir-slov.com/lessons.php]

1). Not a very ''easy-to-navigate'' site. But it has a rather ''user-friendly'' interface. You may opt out whether to register or to try the service for free without registration. No ''one-click'' registration available.

2). Only one beginner's level is available → the ''Beginner's''. All in all the lessons are subdivided into 5 levels: ''Beginner's'', ''Elementary'', ''Pre-Intermediate'', ''Intermediate'' & ''Upper-Intermediate''. But a student cannot choose whether to start or continue learning the language <<=>> one can start ONLY from the ''Beginner's'' level & will have to make his/her whole way through up to a needed aspect of English.

3). One has to make 66[!!] exercises to learn just 5[!!] words <=> [house, door, see, I, the]

4). No special test section <<=>> only includes tests after each lesson.

5). No online practice with the native-speakers possible on this site.

8. hosgeldi.com [http://hosgeldi.com/eng/]

1). Not very-well organized site structure <<=>> not easy to get to the free lessons. No registration needed.

2). No beginning level specification. The free lessons are subdivided into different language aspects [f.ex. ''The specification of pronunciation of the English consonants''; ''Verbs & Tenses''].

3). There are 5 different sections of available exercises: listening & translation; choose ''true'' or ''false'' translation variants; coin the word from the letters; coin the phrase from separate words and the ''Learn Today'' section <<=>> it's a shtick of this very site [the one idea I especially liked] <<=>> every day here appear 10-12 new words and exercises → to help to enlarge your vocabulary. :-)

4). No special test section. Tests are supposed to be included in the ''Exercises'' section. Actually, I've found no real tests on this site.

5). There's available payed online practice with a professional tutor via Skype. The tutors' list with lessons' prices is included. :-(( No free English language speaking practice :-((

9. ''L.inguist'' [http://lingust.ru/english/]

1). I sincerely have no idea by now why the registration process on this site is so much complicated :-)) I've tried the top button ''Get registered'' & it redirected me to some strange Facebook page → not connected at all to the English language learning process. :-(( Then I tried to register via ''log in'' button [there's an option to ''register'']. I filled in all the required fields and received a confirmation letter with the details of my account. But as you might see yourself → no visible reason to make all this <<=>> a very poor user-interface dashboard.

2). There are only 2 beginner's levels available: the ''Elementary'' beginner's level [starting from 0% of knowledge] & the Business English course [they claim that it corresponds to the ''Intermediate+'' level.

3). Very poorly structured in an old-fashioned ''black-and-white'' style assignment descriptions & quite boring exercises.

4). The tests are ''poor'' and they follow the exercises. I may say that in each exercise you are given a particular situation topic around which the exercises and tests are built.

5). There's available listening & speaking practice via the site's audible materials. No life practice with the native speakers is supported by this site.

10. ''Begin English'' [http://begin-english.ru/]

1). There is no registration or a sign-in option on this site. At the same time the site is quite ''easy-to-navigate'' through.

2). There is no special beginner's English level test section on this site.

3). The learning material is subdivided into all in all 143 lessons. They include quite simple explanation of the given material & 2 exercises after each lessons' material explanation.

4). There is a very small summary test after the exercises' section. A big ''minus'' → the answers are given right after a very poor test. Thus it makes impossible to determine your real level of knowledge of the English language :-((

5). The only 2 available language practice possibilities I've found on this site were; the translated and original lyrics of famous songs & the online radio stations in English. Quite a poor number of communicative tools for a really good spoken language practice. [as for me <<=>> the online radio option is almost totally useless & out-of-date at the present moment. It trains only passive auditive skills which is not worth a penny without an active speaking practice].

Supplement #1 → ''Google+ search results''

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