Steps to Success
Steps to Success
- Determination of the current language level
- Definition of personal goals
- Identification of the optimal language course
With just a few steps you can be on the way towards success and reaching your personal language-related goal:
Analysis of your current language ability
On the first school day you will take a language assessment test covering grammar as well as vocabulary. Prior to departure, we recommend that you consider which language level you are at, which goal you would like to achieve and how much time you can allocate to the course. The grid below will help you to determine the most suitable course length for your particular target. Please note that this table is based on an intensive course of 30 lessons per week - the results can vary according to individual skills, age, prior language experience, and other factors.
Your present level
- Academic Level: Having acquired a perfect command of the grammar and vocabulary, you can communicate almost as effectively as a native speaker.
- Higher Advanced Level: You are a confident communicator but sometimes there is a lack of vocabulary in specialist areas. You can express and support your opinion with great fluency and accuracy.
- Advanced Level: You have reached a good level of competence and are able to deal with the nuances of the language. You will also be able to discuss everyday topics as well as to follow conversations.
- Higher Intermediate Level: You have a good comprehension of most non-specialist texts and a very good understanding of grammatical constructions.
- Intermediate Level: You are able to spontaneously deal with situations of all kinds and can write letters and read simple newspaper articles.
- Elementary Level: You are able to talk about everyday activities and use basic grammatical constructions. You can understand simple messages, instructions and directions.
- Basic Level: Even if you start as an "absolute beginner" with us, you will quickly be able to make yourself understood in the day-to-day language.
If you would like to test your language skills yourself, then just use our convenient online language test.
Setting your goals
You should also consider the goals you would like to reach and how much time you are able to invest. Our success matrix helps you to determine the optimal duration and intensity of your language course. Whether you aim to be competent in everyday conversational situations or would like to be able to speak and understand the language perfectly, we will find the right language course for you!
- C2 - Personal Style: Your aim is to communicate as naturally in the foreign language as in your native language. Having consolidated your knowledge of the language, finding your own personal style is now your main focus.
- C1 - Sound Command of the Language: Confidence during any conversation and report writing is your aim. You seek to perfect your knowledge of colloquial as well as formal use of the language.
- B2 - The Language of Presentations and Negotiations: You would like to learn how to use the language spontaneously in every situation and be able to conduct complicated negotiations and express yourself eloquently.
- B1 - Advanced Language Skills: Your goal is to be able to elaborate on facts and problems, you strive to work on projects with native speakers, read newspaper articles and manage phone calls with ease.
- A2 - Participating in Conversations: You aim to understand at a deeper level the context of a conversation and contribute to a discussion. Reading standard business correspondence should cease to pose a problem.
- A1 - Basic Conversation: You would like to be able to understand and respond to short, simple questions and to compose simple texts.
Recommended duration of your language course:
Please note that this table is based on an intensive course of 30 lessons per week. Results may vary due, among other things, to personal abilities, age and previous language experience. If you are not sure about which course to choose, we recommend a personal consultation.
Current Level & Goals: | C2 | C1 | B2 | B1 | A2 | A1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Academic Level | 2 Weeks | - | - | - | - | - |
Higher Advanced | 4 Weeks | 2 Weeks | - | - | - | - |
Advanced | 6 Weeks | 4 Weeks | 2 Weeks | - | - | - |
Higher Intermediate | 12 Weeks | 6 Weeks | 4 Weeks | 2 Weeks | - | - |
Intermediate | 24 Weeks | 12 Weeks | 6 Weeks | 4 Weeks | 2 Weeks | - |
Elementary | 48 Weeks | 24 Weeks | 12 Weeks | 6 Weeks | 4 Weeks | 2 Weeks |
Basic | - | 48 Weeks | 24 Weeks | 12 Weeks | 6 Weeks | 4 Weeks |