language school

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A language school or language school is a special school where languages ​​are taught. Language schools are attended either by foreigners who want to learn the respective national language , or by people who want to acquire new or deepen knowledge of foreign languages.

Offers, equipment and selection

The offers of language schools differ in terms of the number of participants - individual, small group or group lessons - and in terms of the target group - e.g. B. Company training courses for employees - with regard to the duration and frequency of lessons - intensive courses, weekend courses. At some language schools, qualifications in foreign language professions can be obtained. Some language schools also organize language trips and stays abroad.

The Goethe-Instituts are of great international importance for the acquisition of the German language .

The following criteria must be observed when selecting a language school and a course offered there:

  • Qualifications of foreign language teachers: University degree, teaching experience, didactic and methodological competence
  • Course costs included or additional costs for registration and Ä.
  • Group size, especially for courses with a focus on communicative skills
  • Individual learning advice and support
  • credentials

In the case of professionally organized language schools, a relevant (university) qualification can generally be assumed. It is more difficult for customers to assess the subjects of "course costs" and "group size". In relation to the costs, the handling of exchange rates must be taken into account, as fluctuations can significantly change the price for the language course usually held abroad. Language tour operators typically operate an exchange rate hedge that secures the customer the price of the course on the booking date. This is not the case when booking the language school abroad directly.

The group size also includes questions to be weighed up: Generally speaking, small groups are better because the teacher-to-language student ratio is better. However, this does not automatically mean that small language schools are better than large ones, because large language schools in many cases offer significantly more language levels than small ones. The relevance of this consideration becomes clear when the Common European Framework of Reference is taken into account . Does a student need e.g. B. 1 year to complete all levels from A1 to C2, he sits in a small school with 6 different course levels on average for almost 9 weeks at one level. A large language school with 12 course levels can reduce this time to around four weeks per level. This leads to the fact that the language skills of the participants of a level are significantly more homogeneous, and as a result, the supervisory ratio is partially balanced by higher content relevance.

State or state-supported institutions

Several European countries maintain a network of language schools in their respective countries and abroad, which are intended to promote the acquisition of the national language and make it accessible to everyone. These include:

Private schools, market situation

The market for private language schools is very different around the world. Concentration tendencies are only just beginning.

Private schools as substitute schools are notifiable in Germany, but do not require approval. The respective education ministries of the federal states act as supervisory institutions. There is no obligation to notify supplementary schools. They are completely independent in their course and curriculum design. One example of a private language school with a long tradition is the Berlin Hartnack School .

The individual institutes of large chains are usually owner-managed as franchise branches.

The adult education centers offer inexpensive language courses for a wide audience .

The "Association of German Private Schools (VDP)" is the nationwide mouthpiece for numerous private language schools in Germany and acts as a lobbyist and public relations worker for them. 38 German language schools are affiliated with it.

Web links

Wiktionary: Language school  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. Search for VDP schools with "Sprachschule" as the school type , accessed on January 29, 2013