Last updated on 19 June 2026
Surely you have already been told that. It's all on YouTube. “Just look.” And that is true, in part. The internet is full of free tutorials to learn how to use a computer, spreadsheet or editing software. Still, many people start an online training full of goodwill and then drop out after two weeks. You may know someone in this case. You may have experienced it yourself.
In short, the real question is not whether resources exist. They exist, in abundance. The question is how you really learn, and according to which profile.
Table of Contents
What you can learn on your own, free of charge
Let's say it frankly: for basics, self-study works very well. To discover a word processor, organize its files or understand how an email box works, there are solid and free resources.
I am thinking in particular of Pix, the French public service for the assessment and certification of digital skills. It is free, it is serious, and it makes it possible to measure concretely where we stand. On the general public side, The Good Clicks offer simple courses for real beginners. And for more specific uses, video channels and specialized forums provide a service on a daily basis.
There are also basic skills that are often forgotten and learn very well on their own. Here's the keystroke: I have put together a selection offree tools to learn how to type on the keyboard They take charge in a few minutes. When the tool is well designed and the need is specific, sometimes no one is needed.
Where self-didaxia gets stuck
The problem is not the content. That’s all the rest.
Learning alone requires a discipline that few people hold in the long run. We watch a video, we understand at the moment, then we forget for lack of practice. No one is there to answer the stupid question that we do not dare to ask. And when you block on a notion, you stay stuck.
There is also the rhythm. Online training does not suit you. She's moving forward, whether you're following or not. For a complete beginner, for an elderly person who discovers digital, or for a student in difficulty, this gap is often enough to discourage.
When a private course like VosCours to learn IT makes a difference
This is where human support takes on its full meaning. A teacher adjusts his explanation to your level, answers your questions immediately, and keeps you busy when motivation flutters.
For these profiles, follow Private computer course with a dedicated teacher really changes the game. Platforms like VosCours connect with teachers who can start from scratch or fill in specific gaps. It wins what no video gives: an interlocutor who adapts to you, and only to you.
However, it is not magical. The private course has a cost, and you have to come across the right teacher. But for someone who consistently lands on their own, it is often the most profitable investment.
So, one or the other?
Honestly, opposing the two makes little sense. Free resources and private lessons do not play in the same category.
The most effective, in most cases, is to combine them. We clear alone with the free tools, we identify his weak points, then we call on a teacher to unlock what resists. Autonomy to move quickly, support not to give up.
To test according to your profile, therefore. If you're the type to finish what you start, go it alone. If you already know that you will drop the first obstacle, do not waste time: a little coaching will save you months.
English