How to choose the right language course?
It is widely believed that taking a language course abroad in a country where the language is spoken is the best way to learn a foreign language. Learning in a natural language environment allows for much faster progress and makes it easier to break the language barrier. Although learning a language abroad has virtually only advantages, it is worth considering several aspects before traveling to choose the optimal language course.
Country
Once you have chosen the language you want to study abroad, the next decision is which country to study in. For some languages, such as Italian, the choice of country seems obvious. However, when it comes to English, German, Spanish, or French, the choice is less straightforward. After classes at school, you will have a lot of free time. When choosing a country, you must answer the question: What do you expect from the place of study? If you are learning the language for general purposes, an important criterion may be the country's tourist attractiveness, its culture, history, and residents. However, if the language course is a stepping stone to further study or work abroad, it is better to consider learning the language in the country where you plan to study or work in the future.
City
You need to answer the question: What is your priority— the language course itself or spending free time after classes? If learning is your priority, pay attention to the school's reputation and choose smaller cities. There, you will find better conditions to focus on studying. However, if the quality and diversity of leisure activities are equally important, then a large city will be the perfect place to learn a language.
Language School
While the reputation of a language school is an obvious factor to consider, the size of the school and its location can have both advantages and disadvantages. A school located in the center of a large city offers the opportunity to be in the heart of events, but on the other hand, it often requires long commutes from your accommodation, which can be burdensome and involve additional costs. As for the size of the school, larger schools usually offer a wider range of language courses and more leisure activities, and you can be sure that the groups will be truly international. For those who prefer learning in a more intimate atmosphere, a small school would be a better choice.
Language Course
When choosing a language course, one of the most important factors is the optimal selection of course type, length, and intensity. For those learning a language for personal purposes, general language courses of varying lengths and intensities tailored to individual needs and capabilities are the most appropriate. The shorter the course, the greater the number of lessons per week should be. The situation is different for people who learn a language for professional purposes or treat a language course as preparation for further education abroad. In this case, particular attention should be given to language courses for specific purposes and academic courses. For this group, courses preparing for international language exams that confirm language proficiency will also be of interest. Children and teenagers will have different expectations, and for them, courses with slightly lower intensity but a varied after-school program are more appropriate.
Even an intensive two-week course abroad will improve communication skills in a given language. However, much better results are achieved with 8-12-week or longer courses, which offer the right number of lessons necessary to advance to a higher level. By using the search engine on our website, you can narrow down your search not only by course type but also by many other parameters.
Accommodation
Most language schools assist with booking accommodation during the course. Typically, one or more of the following options are available:
- Accommodation with Local Families
This option is suitable for people who are open and easily interact with others, for whom living with a local family is not embarrassing. On the contrary, it provides an additional opportunity to practice the language skills acquired during classes.
- Accommodation in Student Houses or Independent Apartments
This type of accommodation offers maximum independence during your stay and greater contact with other students, as you will have easy access to people with whom you can spend your free time if you wish. However, the downside may be that after classes, you may stop communicating in the language you are learning.
- Hotel Accommodation
This form of accommodation is generally requested by representatives of companies and institutions attending business and specialist courses due to the higher price.
Regarding meals, depending on the accommodation option, you can book accommodation with no meals, breakfast and dinner, or full board, which is especially recommended for courses for children and teenagers.
What if the Chosen School Does Not Provide Accommodation?
If you book a language course at a school that does not provide accommodation, you will need to arrange your own accommodation. Under "Student Accommodation Abroad," we introduce several local and global booking platforms that specialize in offering affordable student accommodation.