Hello guys!
I arrived in Basel in August last year and I enrolled in Academia's Intensive Course (1,5 hour/day, 5 x a week). I had no previous knowledge of German.
I think I was lucky because my class learned really fast and there was a great synergy between the students and the teachers.
Since I had such a wonderful experience with A1, I moved on to A2 in Academia. But this time around the classes are really slow - and very repetitive, we have to constantly review and relearn things that are really basic - due to the new students. The teachers are the same wonderful ones I had in A1, so I believe the problem is really the students they allowed to be in A2, even though they were definitely not ready.
They are not motivated enough, they don't study at home... So I feel like I might be wasting my time (and money!) there with such weak classes.
I am going to finish A2 in Academia, but I am looking for recommendations on where I should begin my B1 intensive course.
Can anyone please give me a perspective on this matter or share their experience?
Thanks in advance!
Do you prefer the class learning style, or do you think you might benefit from private lessons? Private lessons are more expensive, but you can move at your own pace with the teacher. If you're a quick learner, private lessons might actually be better value for money.
I can highly recommend Berlitz. I took private lessons in Bern and was very happy with them. I liked having a flexible schedule instead of a set class time, especially since life happens and you can't always get to a set class. The director of the Bern center met with me to discuss my goals and needs before I took a class. The school gave me a free trial lesson and waived the typical registration fee.
If you're able to take lessons during the day instead of in the evening, you can take advantage of the "Happy Hour" pricing, which is less expensive than the regular pricing.
Here's the page with info about happy hour:
https://www.berlitz.ch/en/berlitz-happy-hour
and the page for Basel:
https://www.berlitz.ch/en/language-school-basle
Hello, thanks for your suggestion and sorry for taking so long to answer!
I like classes learning style, because not only they are cheaper, but also they allow me to get to know more people. I think the private classes are too lonely for me, although very efficient.
I took a look into the Berlitz Basel website that you shared with me and indeed the group classes seem interesting, since they take max. 6 students per class on the intensive courses. When I find a job that will probably be the ideal option, since they offer only classes in the evening (from 18:30 to 20:30).
Right now I am looking for classes ideally in the morning.
I am also taking a look at Inlingua, ECAP, Migros Schule... but still haven't decided.
iOR in Lòˆrrach has also been recommended to me by friends.