When completing a language course at any of our schools you will normally receive a certificate of attendance with details of the level you have reached. This is sufficient for most students but some will require a more formal and recognised qualification. If you are planning to attend a German university or apply for a job in Germany, you may find that you need to pass an official exam, such as the TestDAF, Goethe Institute and Telc exams.
Continuing our blog theme this week with Christmas traditions from different countries, Elisa tells us all about Christmas in Italy! With a special Christmas course in Sorrento or even a New Year course in Salerno, it’s certainly possible to experience these special traditions whilst taking a language course in Italy!
December is here, one of the most eagerly anticipated moments of the year in every country. Here are some interesting Christmas and New Year traditions from my country, Italy!
Christmas is my very favourite time of the year and anyone I work with will tell you that they will be driven mad throughout December with demands to play Christmas music in the office! I love talking about Christmas and today I would like to tell you about some Christmas traditions in England.
Christmas is the biggest holiday we celebrate in England and one of only 2 days in the year when all the shops close completely and you can enjoy time with your family without other distractions.
Although Christmas starts on the 24th for most families, there are some Spanish pre-Christmas traditions. The most important is the Spanish Christmas Lottery, known as ‘el Gordo’ (the fat one) which is held on the 22nd December and is the biggest lottery worldwide. Apart from that, you usually watch ‘La Gran Familia’, a movie that is on TV every single year.
The night of the 24th is called Nochebuena. Religious people go to the church on the 24th to the ‘Misa del Gallo’ (something similar to midnight mass), but most of the families simply reunite in order to have a huge dinner (and eat way more than is recommended). Although this ‘feast’ may vary, it usually includes some appetizers (mainly Jamón Serrano), seafood, soups, lamb and a typical Christmas dessert (turrón and/or polvorones).
We are often asked by American students whether they can attend a course at one of our schools in Cuba, to which the answer is yes! In fact, over the years we have arranged many courses for Americans at our schools there.
In 1960, relations between Cuba and the United States deteriorated and the US government imposed an embargo on its Caribbean neighbour. Technically, this does mean that US citizens are not permitted to spend money in Cuba. However, many US citizens do successfully travel to Cuba every year. US citizens are welcomed by Cuba and generally receive a very warm welcome from the locals!
I recently visited our school in Playa del Carmen and happy to report that it really is located in a very special setting, just 10 minutes walking distance away from the beautiful white sand beach and Quinta Avenida, the town’s main street. The streets in Playa del Carmen are clearly marked and most of the shops, nightlife and the school are located in a small area, it is very easy to find your way around the town.
The school itself is set in its own self-contained grounds with tropical gardens, a cafeteria where you can buy drinks and snacks, a volleyball court and hammocks where you can relax after class! Each classroom is situated in a sheltered outdoor cabana, overlooking the gardens, so you can enjoy the fantastic Mexican weather even when you are in lessons!
Most students who travel to Russia will require a visa. However, which visa you require will depend on your nationality and the length of your stay. Please note that the following is intended as a guide and we always strongly recommend that you contact your local Russian Consulate or Embassy with regards to specific visa requirements.
For all Russian visas you will require a letter of invitation, which will be sent to you upon receipt of your full payment. Please note that to produce your letter of invitation, the school will require some additional information from you. This varies slightly depending on the type of visa that you are applying for, please read on for further information.
For the Spanish speaking world, dancing is not simply a cultural phenomenon but rather ingrained deep within the Hispanic roots. What better way to experience Spanish culture than combining Spanish language lessons with salsa, tango, flamenco or sevillanas dancing lessons?
You can find out more about our Spanish and Dance courses, as well as the locations where these are offered by checking out our brand new website page.
I’ve just come back from 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen and have to tell you about my amazing holiday. If you are looking for winter sun, this is the place to be, even at the start of November we were experiencing temperatures of over 30°c every day, which was a very welcome change from the British winter. Bliss!!!
The hub of the town is the Avenida 5, a pedestrianised street which runs parallel to the beach and stretches right across the town. This is the place to come if you want to go shopping and there are plenty of bars and restaurants where you can get inexpensive Mexican dishes and of course sample the local cerveza.
Formally recognised by all French-speaking universities and many international organisations, the DELF (Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française) and the DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) are diplomas issued by the French Ministry of Education .
Based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the DELF/DALF have 6 levels.
 United Kingdom | 01509 211 612 |
 Ireland | 01 6950417 |
 Italy | 800 699 791 |
 Netherlands | 020 7036459 |
 Spain | 91 1140113 |
 United States | 646 652 0770 |
 International | +44 1509 211 612 |
Company Number: 08311373