Foreign language
In this day and age, neither classroom experience nor Rosetta Stone is your only way to learn a new language. Languages can be learned virtually through programs such as Pimsleur, Fluenz, Berlitz and DuoLingo (free!). Additionally, you can supplement your education by watching, listening to, and reading foreign television shows, movies, music and literature (all of which can be found and rented from your local library), by talking to a friend, or by using Live Mocha, an online language learning community that matches you up with native speakers to help you practice your language.

Science, technology and math
For most people, learning complex math and science concepts is difficult. Salman Khan understood this when he created Khan Academy, a free, non-profit instructional website that teaches everything from arithmetic and calculus, to chemistry and computer programming without the frustration and confusion. Also, YouTubers like patrickJTM, The Video Math Tutor, Numberphile, TedEd and Minute Physics are also great channels with which to learn science and math concepts.

Professional, vocational, self-improvement, academic and cultural education
Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade county public schools all offer a variety of low-cost classes for people of all ages in subjects that include the arts, sciences, and a wide range of recreational activities. Examples of some courses offered include, but are not limited to: Zumba, DIY Home Repair, Photography, Accounting and Bookkeeping, Investing, Small Business Income Tax, A+ Computer Repair Certification, Photoshop, Water Aerobics and much more.

Liberal arts, humanities, communication and more
Do you own a MacBook, iPad, iPhone, iTouch or any other Apple product with a screen? If so, you’re eligible to enroll in iTunes U, an Apple system that collects and distributes lectures from partner educational institutions. Through iTunes U, you can watch lectures on politics from Yale, history from Stanford and scripture from Harvard, among a hoard of other courses from those institutions and many more. iTunes U is home to more than 500,000 lectures and hundreds of high schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions, making it the world’s largest online catalog of free education content on everything from English to engineering. Lectures on iTunes U come from institutions like Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MoMA, and the New York Public Library.

Distance education
While you can certainly get a degree from distance education centers like the University of Phoenix and DeVry University, other colleges and universities like the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina offer courses, certificates, bachelors, masters ,and doctoral degrees completely online to prospective students. Though Florida schools like the University of Florida offer cheaper, in-state tuition, you are able to get degrees from other schools even if they are not in Florida, greatly expanding your choices for continuing your education. Additionally, it’s never too late to get a degree or certification from a local college like Palm Beach State College, Broward College, or Miami Dade College.

With so many choices and opportunities provided by public and private institutions and technology, it’s never too late to pick up a new skill or get a degree. Whether it’s acquiring a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Florida or learning a new language from Rosetta Stone, the key is – no matter what you do – to never stop learning!

What are some ways that you keep learning alive in your own life? We want to hear them! Email us at [email protected].

Cresonia is a journalism student from the University of Florida. She can be reached at [email protected].