FAQS

1. Why should I learn a language abroad?

The ultimate goal of learning a language is being able to use it as proficiently as possible, just like a native. Whether you have been learning a language for years or not, an immersion in the culture that is based around your target language will allow you to have a much better and faster grasp of it. At the same time, traveling is an eye-opening experience because, among countless reasons, it allows you to see your own culture in a whole new perspective.

2. When should I get started planning?

As with many decisions, the earlier you start planning your trip abroad, the better. We recommend that you start planning at least 4 months before traveling. This would ideally help you have a broader variety of accommodation and language course options to choose from. It most likely will help you get a cheaper airfare, too.

3. Can I travel as soon as possible?

Last minute travel is still possible but remember that, just like any type of tourism, there are seasonal demand peaks, for example during the European summer. In addition, the accommodation options might be very limited, again especially during peak seasons. Also, please do not forget that certain countries may have legal requirements that apply to you and the course you choose, which means you will have to wait for a few days before all the paperwork is sorted out. So, ideally, book your language travel with plenty of time to spare but in case you need to make a last minute decision, go ahead and we will make it happen to the best of our ability.

4. Do I need to be fluent in the language of the country I will visit?

No, you can travel to a destination with any level of their language. However, you need to keep your expectations realistic: if you are an absolute beginner do not expect to master the language of your destination within a week. Ideally, the time you will spend at the destination should be proportional with your previous knowledge and your own goals. If you are an absolute beginner, however, we do recommend that you at least take some survival language courses beforehand.

5. How can Listen & Learn help me find the best school for me?

We understand there are a lot of language schools and choosing one can be overwhelming. The first step we take to help you is asking you questions to determine what you like, what your expectations are and type of experience you are looking for. Once we find a tailored selection of schools we believe are the right fit for you, you get to choose the one that best suits.

6. Are there any requirements?

There are no specific prerequisites as per Listen & Learn. However, please note that depending on the country you choose and the length of your course, there may be legal requirements such as visas, vaccinations, proof of income, health insurance, etc. We will go over the requirements that apply to your specific case during the course selection process.

7. Do I need to get a student visa for the country I choose?

Most countries offer a 3-month visa-free visit but it will depend on the destination you are traveling to and the duration of the course. For when a visa is required, usually language schools act as your sponsors once the payment is done. This means that if you require a visa, you need to allow extra planning time.

8. Is there an age restriction?

Most schools have an 18-and-above policy, especially when it comes to individual travelers. However, some schools provide services to younger students, particularly if they travel as a group. In both cases, schools normally offer activities curated for each age group, making sure that everyone gets the most out of their time abroad, no matter how old they are.

9. Do I get any benefits by booking my language abroad course through Listen & Learn?

Listen & Learn is committed to offering you the best language-learning experience. To do that, we will use your input to select a school and course that will allow you to get the most out of your time abroad. In addition, depending on your specific needs, we will provide excellent special offers when you book your courses abroad through us, which will be detailed as part of our tailormade proposal which will be emailed to you.

10. Does Listen & Learn organize my travel arrangements?

We do not provide transportation between your home country and the country where you will take your course – at Listen & Learn, we prefer to focus on finding you the best possible language course experience while leaving the logistics of planes, trains and ferries etc to the travel specialists. We can, however, assist you with accommodation and transportation from/to airport/train station in your destination.

11. Can I travel with someone else, like friends or family members?

Yes, you can travel with whoever you want, even if they are not taking language courses. However, we will need to know beforehand in order to better adapt your accommodation options.

12. Can I travel around my chosen country?

Yes, please! The whole point about studying a language abroad is that you feel comfortable using it anywhere native speakers are. All language schools will encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself by using as much of the language as possible, and if you do that while letting your wanderlust guide the way, much better!


Classes:

13. What type of courses are available?

Courses vary depending the target language, the length of stay, the location of the school, the season, etc. However, most courses offered can be grouped in four categories depending on intensity and focus:

• Semi-intensive: 10 to 15 hours of class per week, normally during part of either the morning or the afternoon.
• Intensive: 20 to 30 hours of class per week, normally during most of the morning and/or afternoon.
• Exam preparation: for those that after the course plan on taking a standardized language test.
• Others: some schools have courses specifically designed focused in particular interests, such as those oriented in business, history, medicine, music and dance. They vary widely between the location and size of the school and almost always require a minimum enrolment of a certain number of students.

Most courses can be offered for groups, one-on-one or a combination of both.

14. How many lessons or weeks should/can I take?

As many as you want! The idea behind traveling to study a language abroad is that you get the most out of your language classes by being able to use the language with natives. This way, you can highly customize your experience depending on your interests, time and budget. Remember to have realistic expectations: if you are an absolute beginner do not expect to be completely fluent after a week of semi-intensive classes. All that being said, most people travel for two weeks and take an intensive course of 20 hours per week.

15. How many weeks is it recommended to travel for?

Depends on your interests, time and budget. Most travelers might want to first spend one or two weeks learning a language and then continue on traveling on their own in or around their chosen destination. That way they get to solidify their language learning experience by making an extensive use of their target language right after acquiring the theory. Of course, for a much more in-depth working knowledge of the language, you may need to spend 3 to 6 months in your destination.

16. Are there any courses focused in particular interests or just regular language ones?

As mentioned above some schools might offer courses that complement normal in-classroom language courses with other experiences. For example, some schools in Spain might offer Flamenco dancing lessons, schools in Italy might offer cooking classes, schools in ocean-side cities might offer surf lessons, etc. In addition, many schools might have specific courses targeted towards certain topics, such as history, medicine or business.


Accommodation:

17. How do I arrange my accommodation?

We can also provide accommodation options organized through the language school. Depending on the location and the length of the course, usually the accommodation options are:

• Host family: Stay with a local family, maximizing your language and cultural immersion. Typically, the rooms have single beds with a desk and closet and sometimes have a private bathroom. It doesn’t always include access to the kitchen in which case the family provides meals.
• Student residence: Usually located in the same building or near the school, they are private or shared rooms, normally with a shared bathroom, kitchen and common areas. It allows the student to socialize with other students aside from the school context.
• Shared apartment: a fully equipped apartment shared with students from the same school or university students. Most apartments have no more than three bedrooms. Most rooms have a single bed while the bathroom and common areas are shared. It provides a more limited chance of interaction but more intimacy.
• Private apartment: a fully equipped apartment with normally no more than three bedrooms. Particularly recommended for those not traveling alone.

Remember that accommodation is in addition to the course price, which means that it is optional depending on your needs. You can always choose to stay with friends/family or a hotel or book your own apartment on sites like Airbnb.

18. Can I include any meals with my accommodation?

Although it might depend on the type of accommodation, you can usually choose from different board types (or meal plans). They can range from breakfast-only to breakfast plus one or two more meals a day. Typically, when staying with host families, at least breakfast will be provided while apartments tend to be self-catering and student residences will only include breakfast.


Payment:

19. How do I pay for the program?

Once you have selected a school and course, you can reserve your place upon paying a deposit of 25% of the course (plus accommodation, if applicable) program. Normally, the remaining balance will be payable 4 to 8 weeks before the program start date. Please note that this may vary between schools, locations and courses; we will inform the particular timeline that applies to your case upon selecting a program.

20. What are the payment methods accepted?!

Since part or all of the payment will be charged by your chosen school, payment methods may vary. The vast majority though accept major credit cards, as well as international wire transfers, and some even accept e-payment options (such as PayPal). We will inform any exceptions during the program selection process. Regretfully, we do not accept cash payments or company Purchase Orders.

21. Can I cancel the program if I already paid for it?

Each school and program have different terms and conditions that apply and will be provided to the student before any payment is made. But in general:

• if a deposit has already been paid, this will not be refunded;
• choosing to cancel the day the program is supposed to start or after will be considered a no-show and therefore is non-refundable.