Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know my level?
For major languages, you can take our online multiple choice language tests. For other languages, please contact us for an assessment. In any case, your trainer will provide a thorough assessment at the beginning of your course. Complete Beginners do not need to take any initial tests.

How do I know how many lessons I need?
This depends very much on your aims and we can advise you on this. For Complete Beginners wishing to reach a Survival level, we recommend 30 hours (15x2-hours sessions).

What qualifications do your teachers have?
All our teachers (trainers) are native speakers and either hold a specific qualification in teaching their language as a foreign language (similar to the TEFL qualification for English teachers) or hold a university degree on their own language and/or literature.

Can I have 3 or more people in the class?
Yes - please contact us for pricing regarding this. Generally, the pricing will be £5 more per hour per participant. All participants must have the same level and be available to study at the same time and in the same place each week. However, classes cannot be cancelled unless all 3 participants are unable to attend a particular session and sufficient notice is given (usually 2 working days).

Can I just pay for the first lesson and see if I like it?
Generally - no since it is very difficult to assess success in just one lesson. It is also virtually impossible to find a good, experienced, qualified trainer who will agree to teach just one lesson.

What happens if I don't like the trainer?
In the unlikely event that you do not get on with your trainer, we will arrange a suitable replacement and you will not be charged for the first session. Where a suitable replacement is unavailable, you will receive a full refund.

Do I get a certificate at the end of the course?
Yes. All participants receive a certificate of Completion at the end of the course detailing the language studied, the number of hours, and the level achieved.

Do I have to add VAT to your prices?
Yes, for all courses in the UK, @ 15%, except for English Courses in the UK. All courses in Ireland are free of VAT - you do not need to add VAT in Ireland for any language.

Can I pay monthly or do I have to pay for the whole course in advance?
Lessons are paid for in advance. To start the course, we require a £300 (payable by Sterling cheque or credit card) or 450 euros (payable by bank transfer or credit card) deposit. As soon as this is received the course can start - we then invoice you for the remainder of the lessons. We do not currently accept monthly payments.

Can I take classes during the summer or are all your teachers on holiday?
As our trainers are all native speakers, that means many of them come from places like France, Italy, Spain, Russia, etc and have families and friends there. While all are based permanently in the UK, some of them generally return home each summer for 2 to 4 weeks, usually in July or August. During that time, we can either put your classes on hold or try to arrange a suitable replacement if you don't want to take a break. We usually know well in advance regarding our trainers' holidays so this should not cause any problems. It is also helpful for us to know if you are planning a long holiday (2 or more weeks) during the period of your course.

I may need to move location during a course. Can I continue with my classes in the new location?
This is something that is not usually a problem but ideally, you should discuss this at the time of booking the course. If you are moving to the country where the language you are studying is the main language of that country, or you are studying English, we will nearly always find a suitable replacement trainer in the new location who is fully up-to-speed on what you have covered so far. For other languages, as long as you are moving to a major city, we can usually accommodate your needs as well. Relocation changes are subject to a small administration fee of £100.

Will I always have the same trainer throughout the course?
Except where a student specifically requests to have 2 or more trainers, we will do our utmost to ensure that you have the same trainer for the duration of your course. Naturally, trainers are people like everyone else and occasionally illness or a change in personal circumstances means that we need to replace a trainer in the middle of your course. We do however find that this happens extremely rarely.