Dangers of Online English Study

Most English educational sites present very poor English

Education... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading. - G. M. Trevelyan

While online language study can be highly convenient and effective (see Learning English Online), far too often the language taught is substandard, colloquial or ungrammatical. Standard English (SE) is the language expected of college students and is generally that which is required in business communication (see English Literacy). One fairly accurate definition of SE is that established by the SAT, the American college entrance examination (see What is Correct English). American secondary schools strive (with mixed results) to teach SE, but a simple tour of online education sites reveals that almost every educational website on the net contains SAT grammar or usage errors, often in profusion, and occasionally in every sentence (see SAT Errors in Educational Websites).

Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. - Oscar Wilde

While a well-written educational website is no guarantee of the quality of instruction and resources presented, a poorly written one almost certainly reflects an inability on the part of the educators to correct it or to provide better copy. Unfortunately, most students seeking to improve their English, are unable to distinguish good examples from the many poor ones, and the claim to be a native speaker, or even to possess academic qualifications is often unreliable and misleading.

When a subject becomes totally obsolete we make it a required course. - Peter Drucker

The idea is to educate, not follow anyone's schedule about when something should be studied. - Ray Drouillard