5 Skills You Can Learn Online for Free

For some, summer is a time to relax and for others, it’s a time to learn new skills and improve on existing hobbies. If you fall into the second group, you’re in luck. The Internet now offers more ways than ever to keep you busy during the summer.

We have found 10 skills that you can learn online this summer at your own pace. Though these skills could be priceless, these classes are available for free. Check out the sites below for ways to pursue your hobbies and expand your knowledge this summer.

1. Speak a language

Whether you’re going on a trip abroad or just want to impress those at home, there are more free ways than ever to learn a language online. One of the premier free language apps is Duolingo. The website and app combo offer courses in 22 languages for English speakers and are launching 6 more this summer (including Klingon). Duolingo also lets you set your native language, so speakers of other languages can learn others as well. For example, Spanish speakers can learn German and vice versa.

If you’re interested, not in speaking a different language, but in improving how you use your current one, you can enroll in a public speaking class. The University of Washington offers an Intro to Public Speaking class for free on Edx.org.

2. Start a hobby

If you’re looking for a new hobby, you don’t have to look far. The website Instructables has you covered no matter what interests you. For anything from becoming a better cook to learning how to knit, Instructables is a great place to start. Browse their easy to use website for tips from fellow students and learners like you.

3. Create art or music

When it comes to music production, the Internet provides many opportunities to learn from and connect with musicians from around the world. You can learn guitar from the free instructional videos from Justin Guitar or piano by playing the instructional games on Pianu. Berklee College of Music also offers many in-depth classes on Coursera on music theory, music production and songwriting.

Visual artists inspired by summer’s beauty can also learn new skills online. Drawspace offers in-depth drawing classes online, some of which are free when signing up. Graphic designers can check out the course in Graphic Design from the California Institute of the Arts, which can be found on Coursera.

Learn how to take your summer travel photos to the next level with photography and photoshop classes. LifeHacker provides an introduction to the basics of photography, while Adobe provides free Photoshop instructional videos on their site skills.

4. Play your own game

Are you bored of all your video or computer games? Learn how to make your own. Coursera offers multiple courses on video games taught by the California Institute of the Arts. Find games in character and world design to create your own summer gaming paradise. You can also learn how to create your own games and website by learning code from Codecademy, which has interactive lessons designed to give you an introduction to coding essentials.

5. Improve your health

Due to its great weather and longer daylight hours, summer can be the perfect time to focus on your health. If you’ve always wanted to try yoga or meditation, you’re in luck. Yome offers free online instructional videos, so you can bring your mat as close to the air conditioner as possible. Calm offers a beginner’s guide to meditation and mindful thinking. Case Western Reserve University offers a 5-week course on designing your personal weight loss plan.

With extra daylight hours and free classes, there is no need to be bored this summer. Improve your vacation pictures, create your own games or make your own music and you can make the most of your Internet connection.