Christmas Language Courses

The shops are already starting to fill with Christmas gifts and the season of goodwill is fast approaching! What better present for yourself or a loved one than a Christmas language course? The festive season is a wonderful time to take a language course, particularly if you are staying with a host family, as you really will have the most unique insight into the local culture. Several of our schools offer very special Christmas programmes, which are designed to give you the best experience possible!

London – London is truly magical at Christmas time, with festive highlights including the spectacular Christmas lights and enchanting shop windows of Oxford Street and the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. This is a 1 or 2 week English course consisting of 20 lessons in the first week (4 lessons per day over five days) and 12 lessons in the second week (4 lessons per day over three days). Lessons usually take place in the mornings, with activities offered in the afternoons and at weekends (please note that there may be a small additional charge for things like entrance fees).

Berlin Prenzlauer Berg – Berlin is a fascinating city at any time of year, but at Christmas it really comes alive, with an array of traditional markets and illuminations. On this course you will have 20 German lessons each week, interspersed with cultural activities designed to show you the best of Berlin. This course runs from 19th – 30th December 2016. This school will close for public holidays on 26^th December. Accommodation is offered in the school’s on-site residence, on a bed and breakfast basis.

Sorrento – Christmas is taken very seriously in Southern Italy and Sorrento is no exception. This is a 2 week Italian course starting 12th December. You will receive 20 Italian lessons (all taking place in the first week) and three cookery lessons with your host family. Included in the programme is host family accommodation on a half board basis, as well as cultural activities including a visit to Naples to see the craftsmen who create the beautiful figurines used in the presepe (traditional nativity scenes) which the area is so famous for.

Lisbon and Faro – There are many fantastic Christmas traditions in Portugal; one of our favourites is the delicious Bolo Rei, a ring cake with candied fruits. Our schools in Lisbon and Faro offer Portuguese courses of 15 lessons per week with a maximum of 12 students per class. Combine your course with host family accommodation to optimise the amount of progress you will make, as well as giving you the best experience of a Portuguese Christmas! The schools will not close for any bank holiday over Christmas 2016!

Palma de Mallorca – Palma is a great choice for your first taste of a Spanish Christmas, with tradition dominating the festivities. The school offers courses over the Christmas and New Year period, closing only for public holidays on 26^th December and 1st January. New Year in Palma is spectacular, as the city not only celebrates the coming of the New Year, but also the Christian conquest of Palma in the 13th Century.

Vejer – Experience a real Spanish, family Christmas in Vejer de la Frontera, one of Andalucia’s traditional white villages! This one week course runs from December 18^th to December 24^th and includes morning Spanish lessons with a different activity every day. The highlight of the week is Christmas dinner with the Galindo family, a great opportunity to try home cooked, Christmas specialities and a warm Navidad welcome!

Salerno – Our Italian language school in Salerno actually offers a special New Year package, taking place from 26th December until 2nd January. This course combines 20 Italian lessons, seminars on Italian New Year’s traditions and those famous Italian hand gestures, as well as a cooking lesson. There are also excursions to Amalfi and Ravello included and you will see in New Year in the town square watching a music concert and fireworks display! The school remains open over the Christmas period, closing only on December 26th 2016.

Many of our other language schools also open over the Christmas and New Year period, although most do close for a couple of public holidays during this time. Check out our next blog for more information!

If you have not yet done so, join us on Facebook and Twitter on the lead up to Christmas and New Year to discuss traditions and customs around the world.

Apple Languages