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 unable to commit to full-time studies, there are countless online tools for continuing education, many of which are free.
Whether you are interested in learning how to build your own website, learning 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 offers free courses, most on its site require a fee, typically $100-$300 per course.
Some of their most popular courses include , , and .
However, we also recommend their extensive list of to anyone interested in learning about other cultures.
HubSpot Academy
In addition to providing business owners with an inbound marketing platform, HubSpot also offers a free, extensive library of marketing resources and training programs.
These 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, is our go-to app for any expatriate looking to learn a new language.
Duolingo is a free language-learning app that uses a gamified system to turn language learning into a simple, 10-minute daily exercise.
CodeAcademy
is the go-to platform for anyone interested in learning web development. It offers free, interactive lessons that teach you to code in front-end languages like HTML and CSS, as well as back-end languages like Python and Java.
Also see: Must-Have Apps for Living Abroad
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 and “diploma classes,” which are a series of courses on a particular subject.
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 are an incredible source of inspiration on days when you need a little extra motivation.
How to Start a Startup
As the name suggests, offers online videos on starting a business.
These videos cover crucial elements of early-stage businesses, including conducting customer interviews, talking to investors, and managing employees.
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 to having kids to retiring and more.
Building a plan is completely free, and you can give them your savings to manage, or link your external 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).
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.
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Â鶹´«Ã½AV has an experienced team of authors, including expatriates and world travelers, providing curated guidance for our clients.
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