As a result of ubiquitous information and communication technology, we nowadays have access to a vast variety of authentic contents that can be used in informal learning, formal subject matter courses, or in both formal and informal courses of languages for specific purposes. What is more, there is also a wide range of structured open content online, so-called Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by well-resourced universities and institutions, intending to reach wide audiences and include non-traditional participants regardless of their geographic locations, native languages or prior formal qualifications. Although language MOOCs are rare, learners of language for specific purposes can also benefit from participating in subject matter courses delivered in the target language. The purpose of this paper is to direct the attention of teachers of languages for specific academic purposes towards the benefits oj the utilization of existing subject matter MOOCs in the linguistic training of their students, as well as in their own linguistic or pedagogical research and professional development.