Free online courses

I always look for ways to improve myself.  be it self-help books or another course to spend on. but like what i've said in the previous posts, i dont have that much money.  internet has come a long way and its not only for fun.  everything now is available with just one click.

I keep telling my friends to utilize the internet for the purpose of learning.  though, not everything internet is free, they are still ways to catch up with things.  did i mentioned i love looking for freebies? anyway, internet is one of the best place to look for freebies...

here are some legitimate sites which you can enhance your knowledge.

1.  e-learningcenter.com/freecourses

this site does have free courses.  it may not be as comprehensive as a classroom-based education, but it does its job.  i love the idea that its free. 

they usually offer computer / IT related courses, but they also have mini-business courses.  they give certificate upon completion, although you have to type your name yourself. 

2.  GCFLearnFree.org

this site offers tutorials and mini-courses, mostly about Microsoft application.

you have to be quick though.  the courses are so in-demand, they close the slots as quick as you blink.  they give out certificate of completion with your name on it and CEU (continuous education units) points.

3.  openlearningworld.com

this site offers variety of courses such as business, IT-related, management, personality development, etc.  they dont give certificates but their courses are detailed and a little comprehensive, so you'll definitely learn.  they have copyrights and they don't want their courses to be copied.

4.  Alison

honestly, I haven't tried any courses this site offers but it looks legit and comprehensive.  i am definitely going to register for a course that i think would definitely help me out.  registration is free.


5.  Wiziq.com

they offer public courses with interactive (virtual) classroom.  it feels as if you are in a classroom.  you can check the site out for public course offerings.  registration is free.

6.  U.about.com

free resources online and mini-courses.  that's all i can say about this site.  they definitely do have a lot of resources.

Internet is not just a place for fun, for social networking and research.  you can utilize it to learn whatever you want. 


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Free Ebooks

I can't say I'm a book-addict but whenever I've come across a really, really interesting book, I can't resist.  I'm just all over it.  I can't get enough of reading it.  My imagination has gone wild.  I can't put the book down.  I stay up so late at night just reading.  I keep telling myself, just one chapter and I'm off to bed.  As soon as i finish the chapter, i go on to another chapter... and another, and another, until it's 4:00 am.  I close the book and my eyes so tight thinking i can still get at least 2 hours of sleep before work.

When I'm at work, I still have the book with me and read it when i get a chance (like a break or in between assignments).  No one can bother me except for my boss.  My friends don't want to talk to me when im reading.  i just ignore them.  im in this fantasy place.  I keep picturing myself as the damsel in distress, the sexy heroine, the helpless victim, the businesswoman giving advises, etc. etc. etc.  whatever the book theme is. 

I have to admit that most of the books i've read are fiction.  but nothing sure beats the non-fiction especially business books... like marketing strategies, how-to's, the research they've done on men and women or just people in general.

but let's face it...  books are expensive.  maybe that's the reason why i never bought books, except the ones i really like or the one that's required in school.  interesting topics obviously comes in Big Bucks! (not packages).

on the other hand, ebooks are everywhere.  they're becoming a trend and i hear people reading ebooks more than paperbacks... for obvious reasons... its cheaper.

if you love books but you dont have the money, here are some of the free ebook sites that can help you.  i have become so updated with fashion magazines such as the one below since finding these sites.

APRIL 2010 ISSUE OF ELLE MAGAZINE

1.  ebook30.com


ebook30.com has wide range of ebooks / audiobooks to choose from... from business to technology, from books to magazines, fiction to non-fiction, etc.  i mean they have a wide-range of books.  they even have medical ebooks. so for those who are taking up medical courses, they probably have a book for you.  unfortunately, since they are free... its limited.  don't get frustrated if you can't find your book.  it only means your book can only be bought online / offline.

You have to be registered first before you can download a book. don't worry though... Registration is free.

just click here to go to the site. 


2.  free-ebooks.net

this site also has a diverse number of books.  not just that, you can even get your book published (better yet, listed) on their site and be one of their famous author.  they actually encourage you to be an author and they'll publish it their site. WOW!

but like the ebook30.com, you have to be registered.  of course its still free.  but benefits of free members are also limited.  you can only download 5 PDF ebooks per month so you have to choose the books you want to download carefully.  if you still can't resist the urge to download, you can download the html format.  html format is unlimited.


3.  Get free ebook

i have not download any book from this site yet but the fact that i can and its free... who wouldn't take advantage of that.  After all, who doesn't like free.


you can still get great ebooks using the search engines... either bing, yahoo, or google.  these sites are all here for our perusal, make use of it!


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Can't find my NICHE

they say before you start blogging, you need to find your niche.  unfortunately for me, my niche doesn't come with specifics.  I have lot of things that interests me to the extent that i don't know what i like anymore... doesn't everyone else.

my interests expand whenever i wanted to learn something new (interest).  for example, i used to be an account executive for a tarpaulin printing business.  since most of the clients i brought to the company don't have the slightest idea how to design, i enrolled in a GRAPHIC DESIGNING CLASS.  it worked out for a while until i got bored and found another thing to keep me occupied.

i worked as medical transcriptionist when i came to the mideast.  i have never heard of a medical transcription profession until that time, which is almost 5 years ago.  i've known of call centers but never transcription.  to top it all, there are several types of transcripts.  Audio transcripts, video transcripts, legal transcripts and of course, medical transcripts.  hmm...

i eventually got bored with medical transcription so now, i studied how to earn online.  i found blogging.  i have several blogs now which i don't really write on [and i wouldn't be surprised if i eventually got bored and discontinue this].  i enrolled in a TEFL course which now makes me eligible to teach English anywhere in the world (considering I am not a native English speaker).

the point is... after everything and anything I have done, i realize that interests and niche doesn't have to be specific.  finding your niche is a life long process.  for now, i will enjoy the niche that makes me happy.  be it teaching, blogging, transcribing, etc.  we shouldn't be afraid to explore our potential.  we are not locked to a specific, we are made for something great.

"you become what you think..." after all, there are ways to gain knowledge, make money without spending a dime.  just read all the blogs and articles about making money online or working from home everywhere.  the opportunities are endless.  I hate to limit myself.  so should you...

-  this is me venting...