Academy of Languages Germany

• Location: Heidelberg, Germany,
• Established: 1980,
• Number of students: about 10,000,
• Language of instruction: German, English,
• Type: mixed.

Academy of Languages is one of the largest language schools in Germany. Every year, language courses are taught here and exams are held on TOEFL, TOEIC, ECL, TestDaf and other tests for the level of knowledge of foreign languages. 

The Academy of Languages is located near Heidelberg and has a view of the castle and the Neckar Valley. Every year, more than 10,000 students from more than 100 countries come here to study: thanks to its internationality, the school offers students a unique opportunity to meet people from other cultures, deepen their newly acquired language skills in regular communication between classes, at events or in one of the accommodation options.

Basically, German and English courses are taught here. Upon request, students can access programs in 16 more languages, including French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Czech, Turkish.

The school offers students many free services:

• Help with homework,
• Literary seminar on Thursdays,
• Theatre and Cinema Club,
• Preparation for TestDaF: oral expression, listening,
• Organization of hiking trips,
• Seminar on the Culture of Japan,
• Consultations on exams Focus telc C1, DSH, TestDaF.

The staff offers assistance in caring for students' children during their classes: it is organized in a flexible way and adapts to the needs of students. Educators create a comfortable environment for children and conduct interesting, varied and age-appropriate activities. During the entire time of parents' lessons, young pupils are engaged in drawing and needlework, play in nature, go to the zoo or planetarium, go to the pool.

Several residences with about 500 rooms, a boarding school, apartments, a private hotel and numerous host families offer accommodation to students from all over the world all year round.

One of the most popular accommodation options among international students is residences – there are five of them at the school, offering a total of more than 350 single and double rooms, shared apartments and small apartments.  The residences are divided into five categories according to the degree of comfort and convenience: A, B, B+, C and E. The residences are located in the urban areas of Kirchheim, Rohrbach, Südstadt, Bergheim and Altstadt. The language school, which in turn is located in the heart of Heidelberg's old town, can be reached directly by public transport. 

• Category E: one- and two-room apartments with a bathroom and a kitchen. They are located 0.5-1.7 km from the campus, the road takes no more than 20 minutes on foot,
• Category D: one-bedroom apartments with full furnishings and private bathrooms. Residents are provided with a bed, wardrobe, workplace, microwave and refrigerator. The kitchen is shared,
• Category C: small apartments with two rooms, located 500 meters from the campus. The apartment has a kitchen-pantry, a bathroom with shower and toilet,
• Category B+: rooms with their own bathroom and shared kitchen. The road to study will take 18 minutes by tram,
• Category B: rooms with a shared kitchen and separate shower. The living areas have a refrigerator, shower and sink, sleeping and working places. The road to the campus will take 15-25 minutes by public transport,
• Category A: a shared apartment with several rooms, a shared kitchen and bathrooms. The rooms have refrigerators and sinks.

Students can also be accommodated in the house of local residents - in a host family. Students are provided with single and double rooms, the opportunity to choose the type of meals and receive round-the-clock support. A few facts about this format of residence:

• Location: various districts and nearby suburbs of Heidelberg. The distance from the school varies depending on the category: 2-30 minutes by public transport in category A, maximum 50 minutes in category B,
• The rooms are furnished: a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a chair. The rooms are locked with a key,
• Meals: choice between breakfast, half board, full board or accommodation without meals,
• Double room reservations are only possible for two students traveling together,
• Features: if the child has any allergies (to pets, food, house dust) or special requests (for example, accommodation without pets, without children), it is necessary to inform the staff in advance.

Another accommodation option is a campus boarding school for underage students (under 16 years old). This format allows children to live in Germany without parents, receiving the care and support of qualified employees. In the boarding house, students are offered three meals a day, accommodation in double rooms with their own shower and toilet, many activities and additional classes.

Heidelberg is one of Germany's leading cultural centers thanks to its numerous museums and theaters, and since December 2014 it has held the honorary title of "UNESCO City of Literature". Together with neighboring cities in the Rhein-Neckar metropolitan area, Heidelberg and its surroundings offer a wide range of cultural events of national importance:

• Heidelberg Castle Festival,
• Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival,
• Days of Theatre and Literature,
• Gaming market,
• German Film Festival,
• Schwetzingen Festival,
• International Street Theatre Festival in Ludwigshafen,
• Photography Festival,
• Enjoy Jazz International Music Festival.

The Academy of Languages offers its students a variety of exciting activities: excursions, city trips, parties and weekly meetings. Employees regularly organize daytime events to unite the team and develop the horizons of the pupils. During their studies at the institution, students will have time to visit excursions around Heidelberg, sports events and joint game evenings.

• The school is an examination center for TOEFL, TestDaf, Telc, TOEIC, onset, ECL and other language tests,
• Partnership with the Federal Association of German Private Schools (VDP), the Student Council for German as a Foreign Language (FaDaF), the German Association of Youth Hostels and other public organizations,
• Year-round warranty for all programs,
• International atmosphere – students from more than 100 countries,
• Many accommodation options: residences, host families, hotels and apartments,
• A wide range of language courses on request,
• Good value for money.

The campus of the institution is located in Heidelberg, the view from the windows of the classrooms opens to the Neckar Valley.

The territory has modern equipment:

• 70 classrooms equipped with multimedia installations,
• Three computer rooms with 50 PCs,
• Residential buildings,
• Large dining room,
• Recreation and event areas,
• Free Wi-Fi and wired internet.

The educational institution is open all year round, most programs have flexible duration and start dates, adapting to the capabilities and interests of students.

An approximate list of additional costs:

• Registration fee and deposit,
• Accommodation and meals,
• Public transport and some excursions,
• Care for students' children as needed,
• Study materials,
• Transfer from/to the airport, railway station,
• Passing language exams,
• One-to-one lessons,
• Personal expenses and pocket money.

Admission takes place in several stages:

• Filling out the registration form and providing documents,
• Payment of registration fees and deposits,
• Booking accommodation,
• Coming to campus for a language test,
• Filling out the last forms and starting education.

Thanks to high-quality programs, students improve their language level, which affects their further educational path: graduates enter schools, colleges and universities around the world, receive long-term visas and places to work, internships.

Some courses impose requirements on the level of language proficiency for applicants, but mostly they are available to everyone. Foreign applicants must provide personal documents: passport, visa and medical insurance.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision