Private lessons and additional options can be added to most of our courses and generally speaking a lesson normally lasts 50 minutes, however in some school cases, it coul be 45 minutes or 55 minutes. Lessons run from Monday - Friday, (unless stated) and you will be expected to arrive early on the first Monday morning to take a placement test and orientation meeting. During class only the local language will normally be be spoken, the emphasis is to speak and think in the new language, a language proficiency certificate is available at the end of each .

METHODOLOGY AND GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Is the program any fun or is it just work, work, work?

Believe it or not it is fun most of the time, even when you are in class. Our programs are geared to provide complete immersion, which means learning, by experience. Class material is presented in an interactive manner, not a boring lecture format.

We believe that teaching a language cannot be successful solely by routine and repetition but should be creative and communicative. We focus on learning to speak the language by instilling the most effective ways to master correct pronunciation and intonation. Our students learn most effectively in classrooms that are highly communicative and use techniques such as role-play, grammar games and videos to support lesson content. Current political, social and cultural materials are integrated to add interest and increase knowledge of the host country and culture.

We also believe the longer you are able to study, the better. It is generally better to stay as many weeks as possible but not study too many hours per day. Most students can expect to develop moderate fluency in 2-5 months depending on several factors (atmosphere, accommodation choice, personal motivation and application, and number of lessons). If you need to learn a language in a very short time, we do offer intensive programs however many students miss the cultural aspect of the country and language if they spend too much time in the classroom.

We accept all levels of language from complete beginners to advanced levels. All our programs cater to many different levels of ability, however, complete beginners have to start on set beginner start dates, please refer to the price page of your chosen program for the set beginner start dates. Each student will be expected to take a short placement test on the first Monday morning of the course (unless a complete beginner), to determine the students language level and ensure placement in the correct class. Lessons are usually held in the mornings, starting at 9 am, which leave the afternoons free for social or cultural activities, trips, workshops, short excursions or free time to relax or explore on your own.

Our standard programs (normally 4 or 5 lessons per day depending on your location) are our most popular and 70% of our students who are studying over 2 weeks, select this option. Students who are studying for 2 weeks or less normally select the intensive program, which normally offers 6 lessons per day. Private instruction is the least popular as it is quite expensive, however this is also a very intensive option and ideal for the student looking to have a very personalized program.

Most of our schools have 6 levels or more of language skills and typically a lesson lasts between 45 and 50 minutes. Students normally have a 10 -15 minute break after every two lessons. Optional activities are normally offered at the school to inhance the learning experience: dance classes, cooking classes, lectures, etc.

Each school has a slightly different course outline and style but the below course outline should give you a general overview of content and what to expect in class, this also varies depending on the length of your chosen program and level of language skill.

COURSE OUTLINE

overview of language
Objective - To develop the student's linguistic competency.
Technique - Warm up exercises, Short dialogues, exercises for oral and listening comprehension, grammar.

reading comprehension
Objective - To understand all types of simple texts: letters, notes, newspapers, magazines.
Technique - Reading texts and group discussion, comprehension exercises such as multiple choice and true/false, comprehension and summary questions.

listening comprehension
Objectives - Working through normal situations of interaction, conversation and exposure in classroom setting. All conducted in the native language, at a moderate pace and with native speakers. The student should master and be able to:
1.Understand day to day issues.
2.Understand descriptions and explanations of things and events in the past, present and future tenses.
3.Understand the basic points of a conversation.
Technique - Listening to texts of either news of notices, conversations, interviews (maximum two people), directive texts, correlating visual images to oral directions, posing multiple choice and true/false questions.

written skills
Objective - The student will be able to write short, simple texts, presentation to the students of a coherent structure with which to organize and communicate their ideas.
Technique - Drafting personal letters about the general themes given writing descriptive, narrative and compositions on various issues discussed in class.

oral skills
Objective - The student will be capable of handling themselves in various real life situations.
Technique - Visual aids, interactive speaking exercises, role-playing of various situations, debates about relevant real life issues, games.

proper phonetics
Objective - Pronouncing the most difficult phonetic sounds, with a focus on those most difficult for English speakers.
Technique - Repetition of the most common sounds in the language. Repetition of words that sound similar. Highlighting the changes in where the stress is placed on a word and the significant changes.

grammar
Objectives - Knowledge of the verb tenses, pronouns, conjunctions and gradual development of complex sentences.
Technique - Conjunction of present, past and future tenses. Subjunctive mode (verses indicative). Pronouns, use and placement. Prepositions. Special expressions. Conjunctions (simple and complex sentences).

spelling
Objective - To have a basic idea of Spelling. To have a basic idea of the accent and annotation rules.
Technique - Dictation: By the professor to the students, by one student to the others, by auditory materials I.e.: Radio and TV announcements, programs.

culture and history of the country
Objective - To have a basic knowledge of the present country society (emphasizing the region/city where the program is situated). The political, cultural and economic situations in the country. Basic history of country.
Technique - Articles taken from newspapers, magazines, books. Videos: Documentaries, movies. Art history, sociology, politics and literature. Visits to art/photography exhibitions, trips to places of historical interest.

The teacher on a regular basis will give ongoing Evaluations in each category.