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Nowadays, aspiring polyglots and those wanting to learn new languages for education, work, or simply for fun are fortunate that language learning has become easily accessible online. Whether using digital textbooks, through online tutors, podcasts, videos, or online group classes, learning a new language has never been more accessible.

According to Kings Research, the global online language learning market was valued at $15.26 billion (£11.99 billion) in 2022, and market researchers predict the number will rise to $41.63 billion (£32.71 billion) by 2030. A large part of this rise in demand is the job-seeking demographic looking to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. At the same time, younger learners are also no strangers to online language learning as the Internet and smartphones have made it easier to meet and befriend people from all over the world.

However, with the ongoing growth of online language learning comes a new concern for health and safety. Primarily, an often overlooked aspect of personal health when it comes to any form of online learning is eye health. While digital and online tools have made learning more accessible and affordable to many, they also pose certain risks to long-term eye health. In this post, we’ll be sharing some eye care tips for kids learning languages online:

Blue light protection

One key difference between online and offline learning is that learners are more likely to spend most of their time looking and staring at digital screens. Overexposure to blue light can harm one’s eye health over time. Studies have pointed out that overexposure to blue light can cause varying symptoms, including headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, and dry eyes.

Fortunately, while it can be inevitable to look at smartphones or tablet screens when trying to learn a language online, there are many ways to filter and reduce the exposure to blue light. Nowadays, companies and startups have come up with countermeasures like blue light glasses, screen protectors, and bedside lamps that are specially designed and made to filter or block blue light. One such company is Ocushield, whose products block up to 90% of blue light wavelengths. So far, more than 150,000 of the company’s products have been sold worldwide.

Sun protection

Aside from protecting your child’s eyes from the harms of blue light, it’s also important to consider other online learning settings. Due to the convenience and accessibility afforded by modern digital tools, some learners may opt to take their language learning outdoors. In this case, it’s important to consider sun protection for the eyes, as overexposure to the sun’s UV rays can increase the risk of developing eye diseases and conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

As is the case with blue light glasses, some eyewear products are specially made to protect one’s eyes from the sun, like sunglasses. Wearing prescription sunglasses is your best bet for providing 100% UV protection — and for kids who may need vision correction to see clearly — still offer prescription capabilities. Thankfully, you don’t have to break the bank to get decent-quality sun protection for your eyes. Many eyewear brands like Ray-Ban offer high-quality sunglasses with varying tint levels and lens coatings, like polarised lenses, for protection against harsh sunlight glare.

Regular breaks

While it’s important to encourage focused and uninterrupted learning for younger learners, it’s also crucial not to overlook the importance of taking frequent breaks between language learning sessions. Studies have highlighted how digital screen use has led to people blinking significantly less. This can contribute to a bunch of eye-related symptoms referred to as “computer vision syndrome”, including dry eyes, eye strain, and headaches.

To counter this, experts, including the Royal National Institute of Blind People, recommend the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, take a break and look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t determine or don’t have the space to look at something 20 feet away, you can also look out your window at outdoor objects. When in doubt, it’s better to aim for objects in longer distances than shorter ones. Another way to promote regular breaks from the screen is by periodically getting up and walking around.

Ultimately, with so many online language learning opportunities abound, it’s important to still put your health first, especially your eye health. If you found this post helpful or interesting, you can also check out our previous post on our partnership with MEGOGO media service, an example of the new era of educational content where entertaining and innovative educational content aims to help learners of all ages learn English. Plus, the English Club TV Group’s content is specially designed so you’d only need to spend 15 minutes a day to learn 2000 new words and 100 grammar structures each year — which means young viewers can watch our content without struggling with eye strain. Look through our channels today to learn more about our offerings.

Article written by Rose Jennings