Online Learning While Living Abroad
The world is constantly changing, and the only way for you to stay ahead of the curve is to continue to learn. This is especially true when living as an expat. Living as an expat brings unforgettable life lessons, but can also lead to a “vacation mode” mindset. For those who are not able to commit to full-time studies, there are countless online tools available for continued education, many of which are entirely free.
Whether interested in learning how to build your own website, learn the language of your host country, or better understanding how you can manage your money, these online learning tools will provide you with everything you need to get started.
edX
edX hosts hundreds of online courses in subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to environmental studies. While edX does offer free courses, the majority of courses on their site do require a fee, which typically ranges from $100-$300 per course. Some of their most popular courses include Leadership in Global Development, Entrepreneurship and Project Management. However, we also recommend their extensive list of cultural studies courses to anyone interested in learning about other cultures.
HubSpot Academy
In addition to providing business owners with an inbound marketing platform, Hubspot also offers an extensive library of marketing resources and training programs for free. These training programs are broken into sales, marketing, and design, and can serve as a great starting point for any expats looking to enhance their online presence.
Duolingo
With over 20 language courses available to English speakers, Duolingo is our go-to app for any expatriate interested in learning a new language. Duolingo is a free language learning app that uses a gamified system that turns language learning into a simple, 10-minute daily exercise.
CodeAcademy
CodeAcademy is the go-to platform for anyone interested in learning web development. CodeAcademy offers free, interactive lessons that teach you how to code in code in front end languages like HTML and CSS, and back end languages like Python and Java.
Also see: Must-Have Apps for Living Abroad
Alison
Alison hosts hundreds of online courses from some of the world’s top online publishers, such as Google and Microsoft. Course subjects range from business communication to yoga. Alison offers a mix of one-off classes, as well as “diploma classes”, which contain a series of courses on a particular subject.
TED Conferences
TED Conferences serve as a stage for some of the world’s most innovative thinkers to share their story. While not exactly a virtual learning tool, these speakers serve as an incredible source of inspiration on days that you need a little extra motivation.
How to Start a Startup
As the name implies, How to Start a Startup offers online videos all about starting a business. These videos cover crucial elements of early-stage businesses such as conducting customer interviews, how to talk to investors, and how to manage employees.
Betterment
Betterment is one of the larger online financial advisors using their resources you can develop a personal financial plan that includes everything from buying a house, having kids, retiring, and more. Building a plan is completely free and you can give them your savings to manage or you can link your outside accounts to see how your plan is progressing. You can link everything from investment accounts to bank accounts, so they get the full picture (and they can even make recommendations to improve your financial situation).
For more on personal finance, come see our article on expatriate credit cards.
Taking time out of your day to learn isn’t always easy, but committing to one or two of these virtual learning tools is a great way to continue to grow as you live abroad.
Related Articles:
- Learning a New Language: An Expat’s Guide
- Finding a Great Language Tutor Abroad
- Starting a Business Abroad: An Expat’s Guide
