There are many reasons why you might be looking to learn a new language. Perhaps you’re considering relocating to a new country and want to be able to converse in the local lingo. Maybe you’re weighing up future career prospects and want to give yourself a competitive edge over fellow job-seekers. If you plan on developing anything beyond a basic knowledge of a new language, you’ll almost certainly want to consider studying at an established language school. However, before you’re tempted to sign up to the cheapest available course in your vicinity, it’s worth doing your homework.

3 Important Things to Consider When Selecting a Language School

Class Sizes and Teaching Approaches

Many people prefer to learn in a more conventional academic setting. If you decide to pursue advanced learning with an accredited institution, you’ll benefit from a well-defined curriculum and first-rate course materials. You also have the advantage of being able to practice your developing language skills with fellow learners. However, even the best language schools can run into problems when it comes to class size. Successful language learning hinges on being able to back and forth with a tutor. This is often not possible in conventional settings and one of the main reasons why so many would-be learners turn to online language tutors instead.

Language School Accreditation

If you do decide to go the traditional language school route, make sure you sign up with an accredited institution. Accreditation is a good indicator that a school will provide all the resources and support required for students to excel. Any school that is accredited will have to prove their faculty consists of qualified teaching professionals, while teaching methods and curriculum specifics will also need to pass muster. Accreditation is awarded at a regional level, so you’ll have to carry out some due diligence when investigating potential schools.

Course Content

You don’t necessarily need to enroll with an accredited school or college in order to pursue language learning. However, you should ensure that course content and structure fits with your learning goals. If you’re simply looking to brush up on some language basics, an introductory class covering the fundamentals should be more than sufficient. However, even an introductory class should introduce you to what’s involved in writing, reading and conversing in a new language.

If you need to develop considerable proficiency with a new language, stripped-back course content simply won’t do. Conversational English is markedly different from the kind of language you’ll encounter in business and academic settings. If you’re eager to ascend the career ladder, you should really be aiming to study the specifics of Business English to ensure you’re always one step ahead in a boardroom setting. Planning on pursuing postgraduate education? You’ll not only need to be able to write fluently in English, but also utilize highly specialized terms not encountered outside of the realms of academia.

Language School

Making a Final Decision

Learning a new language is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be a costly and time-consuming venture. Before you commit to a months-long course or part with any of your hard-earned cash, you need to weigh up what’s most important to you. If you’re only looking to nail down the basics of conversational English, an evening class arrangement or virtual learning model should be more than sufficient. However, if you’re looking to master business-specific phraseology and full fluency, you’ll almost certainly want to investigate an accredited institution.