How many people are in a class?

There are usually 8-10 students.  Sometimes there are fewer than 8 students but there are never more than 10 students.  Our class sizes are big enough to be dynamic but small enough to ensure you get lots of individual attention too.

Who are the teachers?

All our teachers are qualified teachers of the languages they teach.  This is because at The Language Place we believe the best way to really learn a language is to learn it from an expert.  All our teachers must meet the following criteria:

• Primary or Master’s degree in Languages, Applied Languages, Applied Linguistics or Education and/or
• Master’s, Degree or Certificate in teaching their mother tongue as a foreign language.

All our teachers attend regular training workshops throughout the academic year to ensure best practice at all times. 
Meet some of our teachers

What language will my teacher speak in class?

At higher levels your teacher will always speak to you in the target language.  At lower levels the teacher will use both the target language and English.

What if I don’t understand my teacher?

Tell him/her!  Our teachers are here to make sure you learn to really communicate in the language.  Because our classes are small, your teacher will soon notice if you are having any difficulty at all but feel free to let him/her know if you want something explained or if you didn’t quite catch what was said.  All our teachers are dedicated to making your language learning experience as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.

Can I pay per class per week?

Unfortunately, no. Our students pay per 10-week term. This means we have the same students in every class which helps us create and maintain a very good class dynamic.

What happens if I miss a class? Can I get a refund?

Unfortunately, we can’t give refunds for classes missed due to holidays, other absences or short illnesses.  If you miss a class and let us know, we will send you the lesson you miss that day.  If your course is online, we will send you a link to the class recording. In the case of serious or prolonged illness, management will usually offer a credit note for another course.

My company wants to sponsor me.  What should I do?

Contact us by phone or email and we will send the information to your company.  Please remember to say which language course you are interested in.   You cannot start classes until payment has been agreed in writing by your company.

Do I have to buy a book?

Our students receive class materials which are prepared in-house, and these are included in the course price.  Students also receive self-study materials to do at home.  We can recommend apps or reference books for you to buy to use for extra practice.

What sort of things will I do in my classes?

A variety of activities designed to improve your ability to speak, understand, read and write the language.  We use a range of authentic, interactive materials with a very strong emphasis on improving your ability to communicate fluently and accurately in the language.

Will I have homework?

Every week our students get self-study materials to consolidate and extend language practised in class. This could be some vocabulary or grammar exercises, a text to read, a video clip to watch, a song to listen to or a website to explore.

What qualification will I get at the end of my course?

All our students receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of their course.  This certificate states the numbers of hours e.g. 30 / 60 / 90 studied at a particular level in accordance with the Council of Europe’s language proficiency scales. We also encourage our students to sit external language exams held regularly in Ireland such as Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency (English), IELTS (English), DELF/DALF (French), DELE (Spanish) and CILS (Italian)

I’m interested.  How do I sign up?

You can contact us by email, WhatsApp, text or phone to check availability of places.  If you have studied the language before and are not sure of your level now, we will ask you to take our online level test. You may also need to do a short interview so we can assess your speaking and listening level and recommend the best course for you to take. Please note that places cannot be guaranteed until the course fee has been paid. You must pay for your course before the first day of each term.