Livemocha Expert Gary Baker says teaching a foreign language is surprisingly similar to coaching elite swimming.

“When you are pursuing a difficult goal like learning a language or breaking a record, it might take years,” he explains. “Motivation is the key. It’s going to be hard work and it’s going to be frustrating sometimes, so you need to keep it positive and fun.”

Being a Livemocha expert is more like coaching than teaching, says Baker, who is a longtime educator and a former swim coach. He is also certified to teach writing, math, science and history online. In recent years he has noticed that convenience, interaction, and access are driving more people online to learn.

Here’s what else he told us:

Q: Tell us more about your experience with Livemocha.
A: I started using Livemocha to re-learn French a couple years ago before a trip to France. When Livemocha launched Greek I started working on that as well, which was also for a trip. Right after signing up I started responding to a few of the English review requests. Livemocha’s Mochapoints is a big motivator. In my case, Mochapoints can be just a little addictive…but fun. After a year or so I was one of the top 10 English contributors.

Q: Why do you think more people are going online to learn a language?
A: I have used and I still use some traditional methods. I have CDs in my car. I went to a French class once a week at the community center and found a French conversation group that met on Saturday mornings. They were all good, but the class and the coffee group required scheduling the whole morning around being somewhere. I’d miss a class because something came up and then another one and two weeks would pass and I’d feel out of practice. My motivation would slide. I found that being consistent was really important. Going online I could use 10 minutes daily to go through some dialog or record a submission. I was able to fit regular practice into my schedule. It was convenient.

Q: What are the benefits to learning a language online?
A: I think one of the big benefits is that the Internet can be as interactive as you want it to be. From flashcards to live video conversations, you can choose based on your needs and your comfort level.

Q: How does the Internet provide more opportunities for student achievement?
A: Convenience and interactive opportunities. I think the other big opportunity is access. One of my Livemocha friends is a Tibetan refugee living in northern India who has received a ton of help and encouragement from Livemocha members worldwide. Learning English is really important to him because it means opportunity. I think it is amazing that he can be in that kind of situation and have access to that kind of help.

And myself, for example—I’d like to learn a little Greek because I’m thinking about a trip. I can practice online with someone there in Greece right now. It’s fantastic. In just a few months…Opa!

Q: Any drawbacks to learning a language online?
A: None in terms of language learning. There are the typical drawbacks of actually being online like forgetting what time you have to pick up the kids. And the Internet doesn’t replace traveling and experiencing culture and language first hand. I think those things are really important. Learning online helps you prepare but you still can’t order a café au lait online—You have to go to Paris and do it.

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