While there are numerous ways to upgrade your skills, currently, you might be looking for things you can do right from where you are. Fortunately, the Internet has an unending list of places you can learn new skills from, and here are some of them.
Take note that all these courses are free for the basic levels at least, although there may be paid options for more advanced ones.
1. Coursera
You’ve probably already heard of this one before but if you haven’t, then you’ll be glad we told you about it! Coursera has hundreds of free courses from renowned universities all over the world.
You’ll find courses from pretty much any field, and each one typically runs for a few weeks. Each course will provide you with the learning material from time to time , so you can learn at your own pace. However, you have to take some simple tests every now and then to ensure you’re able to follow the course.
At the end of the course, most universities will issue you a letter stating you’ve completed the course. You have the option of getting a proper certificate with the university’s seal for USD50. But even if you choose to not get the full certificate, you can still list this course down as one of your accomplishments.
Website: https://www.coursera.org/
2. edX Online Learning
This is the product of a joint effort between Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Similar to Coursera, you will also find a ton of free courses here on just about anything.
And besides the usual academic stuff, edX also has courses on design, art and other creative fields. You can take more than one course at once, just like with Coursera. So, knock yourself out and enjoy the learning!
Website: https://www.edx.org/
3. SkillShare
Similar to the above two, SkillShare contains a world of free courses on various subjects. When we checked, we found out that there were thousands of students enrolled in each course.
The courses here, however, are different from Coursera and edX Learning in that they’re much shorter. Each course will have a series of videos for you to watch, and each video will just be a few minutes long. All in all, you might just end up spending an hour or two to complete a course.
SkillShare also has a premium feature, where you get access to even more courses for a fee. You can try Premium for free for a month, and you can opt out later if you find that it’s not your thing.
Website: https://www.skillshare.com/browse/free-classes
4. Duolingo
They say learning a new language is like getting an asset, and indeed it is. By learning a new language, you get to learn more about other cultures, make new friends and open yourself up to more job opportunities.
It can take awhile for you to pick up a new language, but it doesn’t always have to be difficult. This is where DuoLingo comes into the picture. It’s an app that you can use on the go, so it’s super convenient. There are hundreds of languages available on it, and you can learn as many as you'd like. You can also use Duolingo on your computer, if you find that more comfortable.
There are planned lessons you can follow, and you can practice by listening to how words are pronounced or see how they’re written.
So, just with one app on your phone, you might be able to converse with the locals at your next overseas holiday destination (post-pandemic, of course).
Website: https://www.duolingo.com/
App: Search ‘Duolingo’ in the App Store/ Play Store
5. OpenWHO by WHO
Speaking of pandemic, that’s the one word the whole world has been mentioning since last year. And while we all wish that it would just go away, learning how to prevent future outbreaks like this is also important.
If this is something that would interest you, OpenWHO by the World Health Organization (WHO) has many free courses on how we can provide good healthcare globally, how we can protect each other from future outbreaks, and how we should react when a pandemic happens.
After you complete a course, you’ll get a certificate from WHO. Sounds good, yes?
Website: https://openwho.org/
6. LinkedIn Learning
Besides picking up skills that can serve as hobbies, it’s also good to constantly upskill yourself as an employee or or a jobseeker. LinkedIn Learning offers several courses by trained instructors that can make yourself more marketable to an employer/future employer.
Be it on how to use Office or how to communicate more effectively in your workplace, you can take any of these courses easily to better equip yourself. You’ll get the first month for free, but your employer can purchase a package for the whole company at a cheaper price after that.
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/
7. HomeSchool Piano
We’ve been talking about how you can take up academic and other skilled courses, but why not pick up a musical instrument?
In HomeSchool Piano, you can get 30 days of piano lessons for free. If you decide to continue to the next level after that, you’ll need to pay a fee.
But hey, at least you’ll be able to learn the basics and who knows, you might be able to teach yourself after that!
Website: https://homeschoolpiano.com/
8. Craftsy (previously known as Bluprint)
Are you someone who likes to DIY everything? We know how satisfying it can be to make something from scratch with your hands. If this is you, head over to Craftsy where you can learn how to make almost anything, such as furniture, jewellery, home equipment, and so on.
Once you enter the website, select the ‘Free’ box on the left side of the page and you’ll see all the free courses that are being offered.
Happy making!
Website: https://www.craftsy.com/all-classes/
There are so many more online courses we would have loved to include, but maybe we’ll do a part two next time.
On a separate note, if you’re planning to change up some things at home during this MCO, here are some tips you can follow:
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