The British Council will launch its first MOOCs in 2014 using FutureLearn’s platform
The British Council has announced that starting in January 2014, it will offer a portfolio of MOOCs for English language learners. The courses will be available on Futurelearn, the UK’s first MOOC platform.
The British Council’s MOOCs will enable learners to access courses to prepare for higher education in English and to prepare for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessments.
In 2013, over 2 million English language learners took an IELTS test. Access to open English classes online should make it easier for learners to prepare for the assessments and for their eventual work or study in English.
FutureLearn is the UK’s first MOOC platform, owned by The Open University, and its course structure encourages online interaction and social learning. FutureLearn will lend its expertise in online learning to the British Council’s extensive global experience in language pedagogy.
“This new initiative with the British Council provides a valuable opportunity for us to support the development of English language and communication skills for our learners around the world,” said Simon Nelson, Chief Executive of FutureLearn. “We are pleased to welcome the British Council as creators of MOOCs alongside our world-class university partners.”