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Faq

How do I apply?

Once you have found a course that meets your needs, then simply fill out the application form, and we will contact you within 24 hours (usually much sooner) with information on course availability, how to pay, and other important information. The entire application to enrollment process takes no longer than 24 hours and is usually much quicker.

Do I need a visa?

Once you have applied for a course, we will contact you within 24 hours to inform you of your application status and other information including visa requirements.

Will someone meet me on arrival?

All of our schools offer an airport, or point of arrival, pick up. From your point of arrival you will be taken to your accomodation and to meet your fellow students, if they have arrived. You will be provided with a welcome pack notifying you of important information to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Please note that should you require a pick up, an additional cost usually applies. This varies from school to school with more information being found on each school's page.

When do I need to pay?

Once you have reached a decision on where you would like to study abroad, the school and course you would like to attend, then complete the application form, pay the deposit and you will receive confirmation of your enrollment. The balance of fees can usually be prepaid (no later than 4 weeks prior to course commencement) or paid on arrival. All payment information will be communicated either on each school's web page here, or in your confirmation letter.

Will I need Insurance?

We hope you will not need it but of course you should have some form of medical and travel insurance.

How can I benefit the most from my experience?

If you have decided to engage in language study abroad, you have taken the first important step in advancing your language skills and enriching your cultural awareness.

However, there are some important practices you need to become familiar with on a daily basis to gain the most from your study abroad.

Speak. Use the language as often as possible. This could be in a shop, restaurant, asking for directions. It could be in class, with a home stay family, at a hotel. Anywhere and everywhere is the key.

Listen. It is not eavesdropping if you listen in on other people's conversation for language learning purposes. It is research. Research the way people pronounce and use the language naturally. You will notice accents and pronunciation, sentence structure; you will build your vocabulary and have a fun time doing it.

Where do other students come from?

Your fellow classmates will come from all over the world. We take many enrollments from Europe, North and South America, Australasia and Asia.

Where will I stay?

Our courses generally offer a variety of accomodation options to fit different budgets. These have all been inspected and are monitored to ensure they meet a minimum level of cleanliness and safety and offer a suitable level of services and amenities. They can vary from shared dormitory type situations with shared bathrooms and kitchens to very well appointed private apartments with cleaning service, all meals provided, TV and DVD, etc. Accommodations are usually within 30 minutes travel time from the school and often are just a short walk away from the school.

Most schools encourage a home stay situation, where you live with a local family, have a private single room or a room shared with another student. The reason this is recommended is that it is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the culture and give you more practice using the language you are learning. Home stay families are usually well known to the school and have experience with and welcome having students staying with them.

Have a look at some of the destinations you are interested in studying in, and you will get a feel for the range of options available. Of course, if none of the options listed seem to suit your needs, our locations can often help you find something more suitable, or you can find one on your own.

How much does it cost to live?

Cost of living varies widely from country to country and within a particular country as well. It will be more expensive to live and study in New York City than it will be in Guatemala, for instance. And it will be more expensive to live and study in Paris than it will be in the Bordeaux region. Our schools offer a great value for the money relative to their country in terms of the quality of instruction provided. Prices are generally higher in larger metropolitan areas as compared to smaller cities and towns. Much of the cost will be up to you, of course – the more time spent whooping it up in bars and nightclubs and having dinners in fine restaurants, the faster your spending money will dribble away. There are always ways to economize. Finding an accomodation option where you can cook your own meals or which provides you with meals is often a good way to keep expenses down. Many excellent resources exist on the internet to give you an idea of what things cost in a particular location. Try entering “cost of living in Madrid” in a Google search, for instance, and you will find many relevant entries.

How fast will I learn?

All our schools provide you with the material and academic support to give you the best chance of learning and improving with the language of your choice. If you choose a course that provides 30 hours of instruction per week, you will learn faster than if you choose one where you have 10 hours per week instruction. If you choose a home stay accomodation option where you live with a local family, you will probably learn faster than if you stay in a four star hotel with a lot of other tourists around you.

All that being said, it is mostly up to you how fast you learn and improve. If you apply yourself, come to all the classes, pay attention and try, keep your chin up and persevere if things get a little frustrating from time to time, and try to put yourself in situations where you will be forced to use the language – take some risks, be willing to sound like the foreigner who’s learning the language that you are, you will definitely learn faster.

Who will be my teacher?

Our schools select trained native speaking professionals with qualifications and experience in teaching the language of your choice to non-native speakers. They are also chosen for their ability to relate well with the students and deliver the material in a fun, efficient and productive manner. Many teachers also speak English, which can at times be beneficial, but this is certainly not necessary as it is better for you to spend the great majority of your time speaking and listening to the language you want to learn. Aside from this, our teachers are varied in age and background. Schools will also often expose you to a variety of teachers, to give you the chance to pick up on different accents, tones and paces of speech. Whatever the case, you can rest assured that you will be matched with a professional, congenial and effective teacher.

What form should I bring money in?

Large amounts of cash are generally discouraged, as they are too easily misplaced or stolen, and if this happens you have no recourse. Other options are somewhat more expensive in terms of extra fees, but most consider it a small price to pay as insurance against losing all your cash at once. Well known travelers cheques such as American Express and Barclays in a widely used currency can be a good alternative. Make sure you keep the receipts in a separate place from the cheques, so that if the cheques are lost or stolen, they can be replaced. But expect to pay a fee when you cash one. Many more people are using major bank credit cards and ATM cards to travel with now. The fees can often be lower than cashing travelers cheques. Make sure your institution is aware of your travel plans in advance, or you may find your card frozen, because your bank thinks it has been stolen due to an unusual spending pattern for you. It’s best to research on the internet what types of traveler cheques and bank cards are easiest to use for your given destination well before you leave. You may also want to consider obtaining some of your destination’s currency before leaving. It’s handy to have it at the airport when you arrive for taxi or bus rides and unexpected events. You will often get a worse exchange rate at airports than you will at town at a bank or money changer.

Will my teachers speak English?

Many teachers speak English, which can at times be beneficial, but this is certainly not necessary as it is better for you to spend the great majority of your time speaking and listening to the language you want to learn.

What if I dont speak a word of the language now?

Don’t let this discourage you in the slightest. All of our schools are very experienced with teaching “absolute beginners” and offer courses designed specifically for you. You may feel somewhat more disoriented upon arrival in your chosen country for a time than someone who has a basic knowledge of the language, but this will change quickly thanks to our schools, courses and teachers. If you can, before you leave, you may want to invest in a phrasebook, go on the internet and learn a few words for free, learn to count and say “where is the bathroom”, etc. The more effort you can put in on this front, the more comfortable you will feel, when you first arrive.

How will I get around when I arrive?

Most of our schools and their accomodation options have excellent access to public transportation or are within easy walking distance of each other and other facilities such as shopping, restaurants, entertainment venues and other businesses. Have a look at the pages for the destinations you’re interested in on our site, and you will find this information. Of course, there are usually options for renting transportation such as bicycles, scooters and cars. Make sure you have adequate documentation or drivers license before leaving your home country if necessary. A little research on the internet will give you all the information you need concerning this.

How do I find inexpensive airfare?

The best deals are found on the internet. Sites like www.mobissimo.com and www.orbitz.com are particularly good. If you book 14 to 30 days ahead, you will usually find better deals. The best deals can often be had a day or two before departure, because the airlines dump the empty seats to consolidators who heavily discount them in an effort to fill the plane, but leaving your travel plans to this late a date can be risky. You may not find a flight. Looking at the airline’s web site can often find you good deals, as well. Fares change quickly, so it can be a good idea to grab that great deal you see. If you notice the fare drop after you purchase a ticket, try calling the airline. They sometimes will issue you a voucher for the difference good for a future flight.

When do courses begin?

Most locations begin their courses on a Monday and encourage you to join at that time. Sometimes this is required, especially if you are an absolute beginner. Some schools will let you join at any time. This is particularly true if you are booking a course of individual instruction. Have a look at the pages for the locations you are interested in. Their joining requirements and start dates are listed.

How do I get to the school?

Some schools will offer you complimentary airport pickup and bring you directly to the school or your accomodation. Most schools will do this for a fee, if they don’t offer it included in the course price. If you don’t want to be picked up, we will provide you with clear directions to the school and suggestions for modes of transportation there.

Will my level be tested?

Yes, all our locations will want to assess your language ability themselves. In this way, you will be assured of being assigned to a class that is appropriate for you. This is usually a short written and oral evaluation and is done on the first day of classes.

What if I have a complaint?

We sincerely hope you do not, but if you do, Languages in Action will take all complaints seriously. Should you need to make us aware of your experiences, then please do not hesitate to contact us. We will investigate all complaints thoroughly and report back to you. One of the many benefits of signing up for a language study abroad program with us is that we pride ourselves on first class customer service. Your positive experiences abroad are very important to us and we do not take complaints lightly.

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