Introduction

Sanskrit is a difficult language to master and one of the great languages to learn. Even if you have a lot of books and other resources to study in Sanskrit, you will still need to put in a lot of effort. We’re seeing a shift in how people learn these days. There are both online and offline learning options. Before the covid-19 epidemic, there was a greater emphasis on offline mode, but now everything is online. Sanskrit classes are the same way. You can still go online or offline if you like. However, because you have a choice, you should know which one is best. Which one should you pick, and why should you pick it?

Let’s start with why online mode is superior to offline mode.

Pros

• Online language learning offers a lot of flexibility.

The advantage of enrolling in an online programme is that you may set your timetable. Language study can be done part-time or full-time while juggling full-time work, family duties, or artistic endeavours. Designing objects with vocabulary on sticky notes or writing, drawing, or making out a menu for your meals can help turn your house into a creative learning area.

• Learning a language online can be convenient and economical

One of the most appealing aspects of learning a language online is that it is open to people from all backgrounds of life. Anyone and everyone can find programmes, resources, and scholarships on the internet. Many of the advantages of an in-person classroom can be had without the high cost.

• For beginners, studying languages online is the greatest option.

If you aren’t previously an intermediate or advanced learner in Sanskrit, learning the language in an unfamiliar place might be very difficult. This is particularly true for those who choose to reside in a city where the target language coexists with local dialects or other languages. As a result, learning the fundamentals online can help lay the groundwork for future study, volunteer, employment, or living abroad opportunities.

Cons

• Limited opportunity for face-to-face communication and networking

Immersion learning, which applies what is learnt in the classroom to real-world situations, is the most effective technique to achieve proficiency and think like a native speaker. However, it will be negligible in online education.

• Difficulty in understanding any language

Sanskrit is already a challenging language to grasp, and while there’s no harm in learning it online, but the valuable classroom environment and structure would be missed daily.

• Immersion in an ancient language zone is the greatest way to develop fluency.

Language learners in their instructor homes will learn to put down their dictionaries and instead speak with the saints using circumlocution. The convenience and continual access with which one can open up a digital dictionary to check a word to speak in a phrase without actively incorporating it into their memorised vocabulary is a big disadvantage of online learning.