Online Free Courses

College Writing 2.1x is an introduction to academic writing for English language learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, an self-editing. The course includes a review of basic grammar, and strategies for writing effective sentences and paragraphs, introductions and conclusions, longer texts, and topic sentences. Students will take part in online discussions and complete an essay for this part of the course .

Length: 5 weeks

Effort:5-6 hours per week

Instructor: Maggie Sokolik from the University of California

Take your English language skills to the next level. We will discuss technological advances as you improve your English vocabulary and grammar and learn how to write a business plan . The course includes video lessons, reading activities, grammar explanations and exercises, listening activities , and speaking practice.

Length:4 weeks

Effort:3-5 hours per week

Instructor: Derek Brown from the University of Washington

In this course, we will explore how language changes over time. We know from documentation that early American Sign Language ( ASL ) does not look the same as it does today. That's because, as it was passed down , it developed and changed . In this course, we will look at the historical data and discuss how the language changed.

Length : 5 weeks

Effort:3-5 hours per week

Instructor: Ted Supalla from the Georgetown University

Ready to start your programming journey? In this course, you'll learn not only how to code(编码） in Java but also how to break down problems and implement(实现）their solutions using some of the basic computer science tools.

Length : 4 weeks

Effort:8-10 hours per week

Instructor: Kasey Champion from the University of Washington

Muir Woods and Sausalito Half Day Tour

Wander through an ancient coastal redwood forest and explore the artistic bayside on this half-day tour from San Francisco. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to visit Muir Woods,   home to some of the oldest and tallest   trees   on   Earth.   At   the   end   of   your   tour   choose   between getting dropped off at Union Square in San Francisco or taking the ferry back to San Francisco.

Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip

Discover the beauty of the Sierra Nevada on this full-day trip to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. Travel aboard a comfortable van through historic Gold Rush towns to reach the park, where you’ll be amazed by supersized natural wonders. Take a hike among ancient trees, and enjoy several hours to explore the park’s wonders on your own.

Niagara Falls Tour

Escape from New York City and head north to see both sides of the Canadian border on this guided, 2-day tour to Niagara Falls. Visit Niagara Falls on both the American and Canadian sides and take a ride on the famous Maid of the Mist boat. Then, on the road back to New York City, make a stop to shop at the Crossings Premium Outlets, one of the largest outlet malls in the US.

Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour

Escape to California’s famous wine country on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Taste regional varietals at three different wineries including both big-name and family-run estates (庄园). Learn about the winemaking process during guided tours, and appreciate the regional culture with   a stop for lunch.

Many people like travelling, but they cannot take their dogs wherever they go. Some people let their dogs stay alone at home while others ask someone else to take care of their pets. If you're leaving your beloved pet at home for a holiday, it can turn into a bad experience. Luckily, you don't have to worry about your dogs any more because Rover can cover for you while you are on leave. Rover is the latest service to offer at ­home dog boarding. It's a good alternative (替代物) to boarding your dog at a dog boarding kennel (狗舍) or your neighbour's house.

The way Rover works is sort of like Airbnb. Dog owners browse the "search" section of the site or app for pet sitters, which can be organized by zip code and available dates. Information of pet sitters is provided, complete with many reviews, specific services and rates. Now Rover has over 25,000 pet sitters in more than 5,000 US cities. And they're all experienced pet sitters.

After finding someone that meets your needs, just send messages to the pet sitter to arrange a meeting. Then, like Rover says, all that is left to do is relax! Rover's pet sitters are encouraged to send text and picture information throughout the day, and if there's a medical emergency, the site will send a vet. Besides, don't worry about a pet sitter who falls through, because someone else will soon take his or her place.

Happy doggie, happy travels — that sounds good to us. To learn more about Rover, click here.