Famed for being one of the most multilingual countries in the world and exporting the most doctors around the globe, it’s no surprise that online learning is booming throughout India. If you’d like to find a course to help you boost your career, improve your English, or start a new hobby, take a look at our list of the top 25 courses for Indian learners from June 2020.
1. COVID-19: Tackling the Novel Coronavirus
Fighting the novel coronavirus has been a world-wide-struggle, and courses such as this one from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) have been instrumental in helping both health practitioners and the general public. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars, it has been one of the most popular FutureLearn courses each month since its launch in March this year.
2. Basic English 2: Pre-Intermediate
Despite having 23 official languages and being home to many more, English is typically the language of Indian business. Improving English is an excellent route to more business and career opportunities, both within India and abroad. This pre-intermediate course was built for people who would like to improve their listening skills and develop their English for use across several different contexts.
3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills at Work
According to the Indian Times, communication skills are the most important soft skill for professionals today. This course from the University of Leeds (UK) and Institute of Coding (UK) is designed to help you identify your personal communication style, manage challenging conversations, and apply your skills to workplace contexts.
4. Language Assessment in the Classroom
Understanding how assessment works can make you a better teacher, student, and help you support your children through school as well. This course from the British Council is designed to guide you through the principles of language assessment and how it breaks down into the different areas of study.
5. Understanding IELTS
Passing the IELTS test is essential for anybody in India who wants to work, study, or live in an English-speaking country. The British Council has put together a free progam of courses to help people prepare for the speaking, reading, and writing elements of this test and maximise their chances of a high score.
6. Driving Value from Data
Data analysis skills are in high demand in India – the industry is currently worth $3.3bn and is expected to double by 2025. People with data analysis skills can command higher salaries across different industries, such as IT, law, retail, banking, and finance. Expand your career options today by taking a course that teaches you how to drive value from data.
7. Digital Skills: Artificial Intelligence
Building national AI skills has been a government priority in India for several years. This course from Accenture (Ireland) is designed to provide a solid introduction to artificial intelligence, its impact on individuals, and how it can change the future.
8. English for the Workplace
If you would like to specifically improve your vocabulary and English skills for the workplace, this course from the British Council has been designed to do just that. Rated 4.8 out of 5, it helps you through the vocabulary you need to succeed in a job interview and work with English-speaking colleagues.
9. Digital Skills: Digital Marketing
The digital marketing industry in India is worth over $160 billion and is still growing through 2019 and 2020. Growing your digital marketing skills can help you find a career within the sector, or can help you inform decision making within sales, development, programming, and leadership roles across a variety of industries. This course from Accenture has everything you need to get started.
10. How to Succeed at Interviews
If you’re just starting a job search or believe that you don’t come across as your best self in interviews, this course is for you. The University of Sheffield (UK) will guide you through everything from dealing with nervousness and practical details, through to what to wear and how to give a good presentation.
11. English Pronunciation in a Global World
Improve your English pronunciation and confidence when speaking English with this top-rated course. You will set personal goals and work to achieve them with exercises in English accents, vowels and consonants.
12. English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development
Whether you’re a parent or an educator, understanding language development is both interesting and useful for helping children progress in their learning. This course is designed for children who are learning English alongside their native language, and discusses emotional and linguistic development while providing guidance on how to encourage both.
13. The Sharia and Islamic Law: An Introduction
Indian Muslims are governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act. A deep understanding of Sharia law guides adherents in how they should pray, fast, and act in accordance with God’s wishes. This five-week course from the University of Edinburgh (UK) provides an excellent introduction to the roles of Sharia law in historic and contemporary Islam, and is a fantastic way to improve your understanding of Islam whether you are a Muslim or somebody who wants to understand the religion better.
14. An Introduction to Screenwriting
India is one the largest cinema hubs in the world, with a film industry worth over ₹180 billion ($2.3bn). If you’d like to see your stories on the silver screen, this course from the University of East Anglia (UK) is perfect. The course gives you everything you need to help you start (and finish) your first ever screenplay.
15. How to Teach Online: Providing Continuity for Students
Pivoting online during the coronavirus epidemic has been difficult for educators around the world, but it could mark a new approach to online learning for universities, colleges, and schools. This course was especially designed for educators who have had to move their teaching online during the pandemic and has been rated 4.8 out of 5.
16. Teaching English Online
If you would like to expand your teaching career to take on online tutors, or if you are just starting your teaching career, this is an excellent course that can help you transfer your teaching skills to an online environment. Experienced teacher trainers from Cambridge Assessment English (UK) will take you through everything you need to plan and deliver your lessons online.
17. Essential Skills for Your Career Development
Planning and achieving your career goals is a skillset in itself. If you would like to boost your career in 2020, this course will help you to create a career roadmap, build your professional network, and deal with upcoming change.
18. Understanding IELTS: Reading
This course is part of the Understanding IELTS program above and focuses on improving your reading skills ready for IELTS assessment. Rated 4.9 out of 5, this preparation can make a big impact on your final score.
19. Understanding IELTS: Speaking
This course is part of the Understanding IELTS program and helps you build confidence when speaking English, and discusses what you should expect on the day of your IELTS oral examination.
20. Understanding IELTS: Writing
This course is part of the Understanding IELTS program and covers the writing part of the examination. You will learn techniques and strategies to improve your performance in the test and gain an understanding of the assessment criteria.
21. HR Fundamentals
If you would like to begin a career in human resources, this course from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (UK) provides you with an understanding of how HR helps businesses to achieve their strategic objectives while building a solid understanding of core HR processes such as recruitment and retention.
22. Teaching English: How to Plan a Great Lesson
Planning is the key to creating an engaging and successful lesson. This course from the British Council is for English teachers within primary, secondary, and higher education who would like to develop their lesson plans further.
23. Start Writing Fiction
India publishes over 90,000 books per year, primarily in Hindi or English. If you’d like to see your own work on the shelves, or even if you just want to write for pleasure, this is the perfect course. Within this course, established writers talk about how they started their careers and how they conduct the research needed to write a great novel. You’ll learn good writing practices, how to create engaging characters, and the importance of feedback.
24. The Power of Podcasting for Storytelling
India is expected to have 1 billion podcast listeners in 2020 – instead of competing for attention and screen time with your audience, you can share your story via podcasting instead. This course from the University of Wollongong (Australia) gives you all the skills you need to start a podcast, including how to grow your audience.
25. How to Learn Online: Getting Started
If you’re keen to start learning online but you’re nervous about the format, teaching styles, or whether you can fit the course around your existing commitments, this is the perfect course for you. It’s an easy introduction to the world of online learning, created by the UK’s Open University. It will help you gain skills and confidence to start on your online learning journey.
