Learn a language abroad – what’s stopping you?

It’s common knowledge that having a good grasp of a second language opens many doors. This is true whether it is work-, study-, or leisure-related.

The team here at Apple Language Courses are often asked to address a myriad of concerns on a daily basis.

For this reason, we thought it was time to write a post asking…
What’s stopping YOU?

Hopefully you will find these answers useful, but if you do have any other questions we are always very happy to help by email or telephone: +44 (0)1509 211612.

As always, you can read our common frequently asked questions on the following page of our website: FAQs

Below you will find further answers to more specific questions that we receive. These will hopefully reassure you and give you the confidence and reassurance to experience a life-changing language course abroad for yourself!

Can I still stay in your accommodation if I have a special diet or I am allergic to specific foods?🍽️

Whether you are vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian, suffer from coeliac disease, prefer gluten-free diets or don’t eat certain foods due to religious reasons, do not worry!

More and more people are altering their diet, either by choice or by necessity. All of our language schools understand this, and we are more than happy to accommodate you and your dietary requirements. Some of our accommodation providers may need to charge a little extra for specific diets, we will, of course, be happy to discuss this with you.

Veganism is becoming increasingly popular. The number of vegans in Britain has doubled twice in the past four years alone. It is not only a healthier option for many, but also socially and ethically responsible – as such, we regularly make bookings for students who are vegetarian or vegan. Some participants express concerns that host families living in countries with a traditionally meat-heavy diet might not be willing to cater for vegans or vegetarians. However, the accommodation officer at each school will select families based on their knowledge and experience in providing special meals for these students.

The same goes for students who require a gluten-free diet, who are allergic to particular foods, or for those who do not eat certain products according to their religious beliefs.

The most important thing is that you mention any dietary requirements at the time of booking. We can then pass these to our colleagues at your chosen school from the very beginning. Before we send you your confirmation we will discuss any potential supplement with you.

Of course, we also offer many self-catering options for students who prefer to do their own thing!

I use a wheelchair – can I attend one of your courses?♿

Many of our schools are adapted for wheelchair users and offer elevators and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Some schools also have their own residences, with specially adapted bedrooms. We have checked with each of our schools as to whether they would be suitable for students who use a wheelchair, or who have mobility difficulties in general, and have this information to hand. We will be updating our website with this information very soon. In the meantime, we will be very happy to answer any questions you may have in this regard.

I’m concerned that I will be much older than the other students on the course – what do you think?

All our adult courses are suitable for students of any age – there is never a maximum! We have arranged language courses for students from 9 to 90 years old. Our ‘general’ adult language courses start every Monday for students who have some knowledge of their target language, while courses for beginners often have selected start dates. This is usually once every fortnight, or every month, depending on the location.

Most students (around 70%) on a general course during the summer will usually be aged between 20 and 35 years old. However, there are often students in their forties, fifties, sixties, and older. If you are happy to study with like-minded individuals of all generations, then go for it!

There are some mature learners who prefer the idea of studying exclusively with students of a similar age to themselves. Our 50+ courses are the most widely-available of age-restricted courses and are becoming more and more popular. We also offer a smaller number of 30+ or 40+ courses, available in selected locations. All Club 50+ courses have specific start dates, normally during the lower season. Please feel free to contact us for more details.

I’m worried that I’ve left it too late to take a language course starting in the next week or two – can I still attend?⌛

Fear not!  We do not have any booking deadlines. We can generally arrange a language course and accommodation as late as the Friday before the course start date. In these cases, some flexibility on your exact programme and accommodation choice is useful.

A little more time to make the arrangements for you is always appreciated, but we will do all we can for you, right up until the last minute! As long as your chosen language school still has availability – which isn’t usually a problem – we will be able to arrange a lovely language programme for you.

I want to take a course but I don’t have anyone to go with – can I travel alone?🧘

Yes, yes, yes! A language travel holiday is the perfect option for a solo traveller. In fact, most of our students travel as individuals, with only a small minority choosing to go with friends, family members, or partners. There will never be any surprise ‘single occupancy supplements’, as this is the most common type of accommodation available.

The majority of our schools also arrange activities and excursions outside of class time. This really helps students to get to know each other, their teachers and their chosen study location. People tend to make connections very quickly when placed in the same boat, therefore, if you do want to meet and socialise with people from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds, this is a great way to do it. Likewise, there is no pressure to get involved if you prefer to concentrate on studying as much as possible and entertain yourself.

I’ve never done anything like this before and I’m nervous – what can I expect?🤹

Don’t be nervous! You are in safe hands. We have an FAQs section, as mentioned above, but Apple Language Courses are here to answer any other queries you may have. Examples of further questions we often answer are:

• What’s the best way to get to my accommodation from the airport?
• Do I need to take my own towels?
• What are the washing facilities are like?
• How many students are currently enrolled?
• Will I receive a leaving certificate at the end of my language course?
• Can I split my four-week language course in to two two-week courses?
• Are there parking facilities available if I arrive by car?

We have also heard more obscure, but still valid, questions such as:

• I don’t like heights – can my apartment be on the ground/first floor?
• I love tiny dogs – can you place me with a host family that has one?
• I’m travelling with my bike/cat/dog/ferret – can these be accommodated?

We are even prepared for slightly more unexpected questions. Two of the more unusual ones we remember are:

• I am going to Guatemala for six weeks. I only drink bottled water but can’t fit that much in my case – what should I do?
• Is it true that Brazilian women like hairy men? Because I look like Chewbacca…

We are ready for (almost) anything and want to make sure you are fully prepared before you travel!

Approximately two weeks before the course begins we will send you a complete travel information document. This includes the address of the school, the address of your accommodation (if booked), and any other essential details such as: lesson start time/schedule, details of any public holidays, what would be good to bring with you, and more.

Almost all schools provide students with an emergency telephone number. Students can use this number should they encounter any problems at all on the day of arrival. It is nice to know someone is available if the unexpected happens!

Once your course has started, the staff at the school will be at your disposal to address any concerns you may have. You are also welcome to contact the team here at Apple Language Courses at any time. Some schools, especially those offering our Young Student programmes also have accommodation with a 24-hour reception. This means there is always going to be someone on hand to help you if needed.

Opening yourself up to new experiences and cultures can be daunting, but with an open-mind and realistic expectations, you can be certain of an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Are your schools LGBT-friendly? ️‍🏳️‍🌈

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t even have to address this. However, we have received enquiries from members of the LGBT community asking if they are likely to encounter any difficulties while attending our courses.

We’re pleased to assure you that all our schools are LGBT-friendly, so arranging your course and accommodation will not present any problems at all.

However, LGBT students may receive unwelcome attention in certain locations where we have schools, such as Cairo or Dubai.  More information regarding local laws and customs can be found on the UK’s Foreign Office travel advice website. They also have a useful advice page for the LGBT community.

I already have accommodation – can I book the course only?📚

Yes! Although we feel that our accommodation options offer great value for money, we do appreciate that some students prefer to make their own arrangements, or have friends or family members living in their chosen study location. However, we do feel that staying with a host family offers the most rewarding and culturally insightful experience. Sitting down to eat a meal with your carefully-selected family members and putting your new language skills into practice is a feeling like no other!

We also offer shared apartment accommodation for the more budget-conscious student, or student residences, private studio apartments, or hotel accommodation for those who prefer a little more independence.

Host family accommodation – what should I expect? ‍‍‍👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🏡

An accommodation officer at each school carefully selects the host family accommodation for every student. In terms of host family accommodation, each school has a network of families that they work with regularly – in most cases they have been doing this for many years.

When you choose host family accommodation, we will always take any particular requirements in to account. As mentioned previously, if you are vegetarian we will place you with a family who are able to cater for a vegetarian diet. If you have a particular allergy, we will make sure you are placed in an appropriate home.

Host families can be married or unmarried couples, with or without children, or single persons of any age. If you have any preferences with regards to your accommodation, please mention these at the time of booking. This could include a request to ensure you have access to a private bathroom, to stay with someone of a similar age, or with someone who doesn’t have children living at home. Although we cannot guarantee that it will be possible to meet all your requests, our colleagues at the school will certainly do their best.

While staying with a host family, you will have your own key and will be able to come and go as you please. You will have your own bedroom, but to maximise the experience of staying with a host family we would recommend that you spend time socialising with them. You should take the initiative to try and speak to them as much as possible, or just spend some time watching foreign television with them in the evening. Of course, our families know that you may like your independence – as many students also choose to go out in the evening, exploring their chosen study location. If you have half-board accommodation but want to eat out one evening instead, just make sure your host knows in advance. All students should naturally be as respectful as possible. For example, if you come in late at night, do so quietly.

In the unlikely event that you have any problems with your accommodation, we would ask you to mention these to the accommodation officer (or us) as quickly as possible. In many cases, the problem will most likely be down to a misunderstanding. However, if there are any more serious issues, we will do all we can to resolve them with minimal disruption and fuss.

We hope that the answers given above are helpful and encourage you all to go ahead and make the most of the time you have available. If there are any other issues that might be preventing you from making a booking with us and starting your language travel adventure, please do let us know.

We are always very happy to help!