The spelling of the word "free course" follows the standard rules of English orthography, with the "f" representing the voiceless labiodental fricative sound /f/ and the "r" representing the alveolar approximant sound /ɹ/. The "ee" digraph represents a long vowel sound /i:/, while the "c" and "s" together represent the voiceless alveolar affricate sound /tʃ/. The final "e" marks the silent E, which signifies that the preceding vowel should be pronounced long.
A free course refers to an educational program or curriculum that is offered to individuals without any cost or payment required. These courses are typically made available online, allowing learners to access them from anywhere with an internet connection. The aim of free courses is to provide education and skills training to a wide range of individuals, regardless of their financial status or geographical location. Generally, free courses cover diverse subjects, spanning from academic subjects like mathematics, science, and literature to practical skills such as computer programming, graphic design, and photography.
Free courses are often created and provided by educational institutions, universities, or organizations with a mission to promote knowledge sharing and skill enhancement. They can be short-term, providing specific learning objectives in a condensed format, or more comprehensive, resembling full-length courses with multiple modules or units. Free courses usually incorporate various learning materials, such as video lectures, interactive quizzes, reading materials, and assignments or projects for evaluation and practice.
The popularity and accessibility of free courses have grown significantly with the advent of online platforms and technology, making education more inclusive and democratic. Such courses enable individuals to pursue personal interests, fulfill educational requirements, enhance professional skills, or explore new fields of knowledge, all at no financial cost.
The word "free course" is a combination of two words - "free" and "course". Here's the etymology of each word:
1. Free:
The word "free" originated from the Old English word "freo", meaning "exempt from slavery or servitude; not in bondage; acting of one's own will". It is related to the Old Norse word "friðr", which means "peace" or "love". The Indo-European root "pri" is also associated with the word "free", which means "to love" or "to please". The concept of being free has evolved over time to encompass various meanings such as liberty, independence, and lack of constraints.
2. Course:
The word "course" traces its origins back to the Latin word "cursus", which means "a running" or "a racecourse".