FAQ - FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR LANGUAGE TRIP

With LISA! Study Abroad you will find a wide selection of reasonable language courses all over the world.
You can find here the answers to basic questions, for example, how to prepare your trip (entry requirements, visas) and which option suit you best!

Entry Requirements

What course types are available?

Your lessons will be lead by a professional teacher who specialises in teaching their native tongue as a foreign language. Holiday Course: This course consists of up to 15 lessons per week and is taught in groups. The holiday course can be booked for any period of time from one week to up to a year. Standard Course: This course usually consists of 16 to 20 lessons per week. Therefore, this allows you to further develop your language in your free time in the afternoons. The standard course can be booked for any period of time from one week to up to a year. The average course length of our customers is 4 weeks, the optimal length is 12 weeks. Our standard course is taught in groups, with students from all over the world. Intensive Course: The intensive course usually has 21 to 26 lessons a week You will still have plenty of time to enjoy social and cultural activities in the afternoons and evenings.The intensive course is taught in group lessons and includes more lessons than the holiday or standard course, to allow faster progress in your chosen language. We recommend the intensive programme to anyone who wishes to make considerable progress in their chosen language in 2 to 4 weeks. Super Intensive Course: This course has more then 27 lessons per week and is taught in groups with students from all over the world. Like the intensive course, we recommend the super intensive programme to anyone who wishes to make considerable progress in their chosen language in a very short period of time. The average course length for our customers is 2 weeks, though the optimal length is between 2 and 12 weeks. Business Course: We recommend this course to young professionals or business managers. The business course is offered to students of several different proficiency levels, but at least a small amount of prior knowledge of the language is necessary to be able to follow the lessons. You will learn how to communicate with international partners, make business connections and develop networks. The business course usually consists of 30 lessons a week. You will have 6 lessons a day, which will still leave plenty of time to enjoy social and cultural activities in the afternoons and evenings. Minigroup Lessons: Private Lessons: At our language schools, private tuition comes under 'Star Course'. Tuition on the Star Course is on a private basis. The Star Course is recommended if you are planning to learn a language in the shortest possible time or, for example, if you have to prepare for a negotiation or presentation. The teaching plan is precisely tailored to meet your learning objectives and cover your particular areas of interest. This course includes between 15 and 30 private lessons a week. In some destinations private tuition for 2 persons booking and travelling together with 1 teacher is available. Courses which combine group lessons and private lessons come under 'Standard Course Plus' or 'Intensive Course Plus'. These are our most successful courses; we recommend it regardless of the length of your stay. You will decide on the content of your private lessons together with your tutors. The lessons will cover your areas of interest as well as any aspects of the language that you may need to revise. After just a few days, complete beginners will be able to make simple conversation with their host families and after two weeks, they will be able to make conversation with any native speaker. Family Course: Language & Culture Course: Explorer Course;

Which skill level do I have?

An exact assessment of your level of language takes place on the first day at the school. Some schools may also ask you to sit your placement test online before you start your trip. You will then be placed into groups according to ability, in order to ensure the best learning conditions for each student. The level you describe when booking your course is only necessary to give the school a general idea of your knowledge of the language. Levels usually converge into each other. Most of our schools use the European Language Certificate (TELC) system which is a framework described by the European Council (1991). This enables us to compare levels of language, even in different languages. Each level is described in terms of proficiency as well as areas which could still be improved. With this framework, the European Council created guidelines to help learners categorise their knowledge and measure their success. A0 - complete beginner You have no knowledge of the language whatsoever and cannot read or understand simple sentences such as the following: Lisa ist ein schönes Mädchen. Lisa est une belle fille. Lisa es una niña hermosa. Lisa è una bella ragazza. Лиза красивая девушка. ลิซ่าเป็นสาวสวย. A1 - Elementary Level You know a few words of the language, you may be able to understand a few phrases and only say a few words. You have no or hardly any knowledge of the grammar of the language you are learning. For example: Haus, Baum, Katze, Hund, Maus, Ich habe Hunger, maison, arbre, chat, chien, souris, j'ai faim, casa, albero, gatto, cane, topo, ho fame, dom, drzewo, kot, pies, mysz, jestem głodny, Дом, дерево, кошка, собака, мышь, я голоден, árbol, gato, perro, ratón, tengo hambre, เมาส์ต้นไม้, บ้าน, แมว, สุนัข,, ฉันหิว A2 - Lower Intermediate You know a few words and phrases for everyday purposes, but you cannot speak fluently. You have a rudimentary knowledge of the grammar of the language you are learning. For languages such as Arabic, Russian, Chinese or Japanese, Lower Intermediate means you can read simple sentences using the script the language uses. B1- Intermediate You can communicate well in familiar matters. You have a good level of listening and reading comprehension. You may still have difficulties with pronunciation and technical terms. B2 - Upper Intermediate You communicate well and you can understand abstract and new topics. You have a good knowledge of technical terms and you are able to have a conversation with native speakers. C1 - Advanced You communicate very well, albeit with minor mistakes. You can communicate fluently, spontaneously and in any situation. You can understand technical texts. You would categorize yourself as advanced and you would like to improve your knowledge of technical terms or improve your knowledge of the language to a perfect level. C2 - Upper Advanced You have a very rich vocabulary, you use grammar correctly without having to think about it and speak fluently. You understand anything you may read or hear, and you can summarise information without difficulties. Your aim is to speak the language like a native speaker or to improve your knowledge of the language as a linguist / translator to a degree of perfection. Exceptional Circumstances: Course participants who cannot be placed into an ability group receive individual tuition instead of group lessons. The amount of lessons will therefore be proportionally fewer. The number of lessons may also be reduced for very small groups.

Which accommodation types are available?

We offer you clean, tidy and personally hand-picked accommodation choices. We can offer you a choice of self-catered, bed & breakfast, half-board or full-board at each of our locations to better suit your needs. As a rule, accommodation costs are already included in our prices. Should there be seasonal prices they are calculated pro rata according to date. Family (Host Family & Private Lodging) If you want to build up your speaking skills quickly, we would advise you to book accommodation with a host family/private lodging. Our host families are friendly, communicative and as diverse and individual as our customers. Traditional families with two parents and children are becoming fewer and fewer in the cities. Therefore, if you opt for a host family as your choice of accommodation, you will either stay with a traditional family with children or as a private lodger (e. g. with a single mother, a couple etc.). Please note that you are not allowed to use the kitchen in most host families, so we recommend that you book half board (HB) or full board (FB). Please remember that meals will be prepared according to local customs and the host family’s cooking habits. School-owned Shared Flat This involves staying with several other course participants in simple but adequately equipped accommodation with shared kitchen and bath/WC facilities. You can usually book a single (SR) or double (DR) room. Shared Flat You will stay in a room in a shared house or flat with several people, e. g. local students or private tenants, in simple but adequately equipped accommodation with shared kitchen and bathroom/WC facilities. At most locations, only single rooms can be booked in the flat share. Students are usually responsible for cleaning their own rooms. Studio You will stay in a single-room apartment with a bath/WC and usually a kitchenette. Studios can be booked as singles or, in some cases, as double rooms for people travelling together. Apartment You will stay in a single or multi-bed apartment. The facilities are usually more exclusive than in a holiday flat or flat share. The apartment has a bath/WC and a well-equipped kitchen, which you will be able to make full use of. The apartment can generally be booked by people travelling alone as a single room or by two or more people travelling together. Residence You will stay in a student hall of residence with international guests. Please see the description of each individual course destination for information about kitchen and bathroom facilities. Halls of residence are very popular because they are often centrally located. This type of accommodation is more basic than others. Single (SR), double (DR) or shared dorm rooms (D) are available (see description of the particular location). Please note that some residences may only be available in summer. Hotel Most of the hotels in our brochure are classed as 3-star (see description of course location). In Malta, we also offer 4 and 5 star hotels. Hostel You will stay in a youth hostel with an international atmosphere. Single (SR), double (DR) or dormitory-style (D) rooms are available, depending on the course location. Kitchen and bath/WC are shared. Hostels are suitable for students who do not demand a high level of comfort.

Travel Insurances

Is it possible to book accommodation without a language course?

How do I sign up? When should I book? - The Booking

What happens next, after I have made a reservation?

What happens if I am the only student at a language level?

Whill there be lessons on public holidays?

How should I prepare?

How can I reach you?

Which age is the minimum age for language courses abroad?

Can I travel together with my family?

Do I need to bring bed linen and towels?

Is there a possibility for washing my clothes?

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