DESIGN OF ONLINE LANGUAGE COURSES IN SLOVAKIA: EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS

Creation of an effective and efficient learning program in an organization requires proper identification of employee learning needs, which should be related to analysis of the organization, job requirements and personal analysis. Similarly, online education in the college environment should match a school’s educational goals, curricula and student profiles. In business organizations as well as schools, online language courses need appropriate technical background and financing. Motivation, which is connected to psychological capabilities and cognitive skills of learners, has an important function in online course design, too. The objective of the paper is to compare various aspects of online language learning in Slovakia, aimed at working adults on one-hand and college students on the other. Analysis of the similarities and differences in requirements of e-learning in these two groups leads to recommendations regarding successful online course design and management. Finally, the paper presents a list of obstacles that educators must avoid in Virtual Learning.