FAQs

How quickly can I become fluent?
Students who come to us as a complete beginner can expect to achieve a good degree of fluency after around 80 − 100 hours' tuition. Students studying more complex languages such as Japanese, Mandarin or Arabic may require more time. However, in most cases 24 - 36 hours' tuition will enable students to achieve a pre-intermediate / intermediate level enabling them to get by in their chosen language.

When can I start a course?
1 to 1 courses can be started at anytime throughout the year. Group courses run in conjunction with the school terms and can be started in September, January and April.

How often do classes run?
Students who come for classes on a 1 to 1 basis are free to choose to from as many classes per week as they like. Most students tend to come for 1 or 2 x 60 or 90 minute classes per week. Students who come on a group basis have 1 x 90 minute class per week during term time.

How long is each class?
Class duration for adults varies form 60, 90 or 120 minutes. 1 to 1 students are free to choose the length of their lessons. Most students prefer 60 minute lessons however students who consider themselves good linguists tend to choose 90 or 120 minute classes. Group classes are always 90 minutes in length. Childrens' classes (4 − 12) range from 30 − 45 minutes in length.

Do I have to come at a fixed time every week?
Students who come on a 1 to 1 basis are free to choose the days and times of their lessons. 1 to 1 students are not required to come at a fixed time each week. Students who come on a group basis have to attend lessons on the same day & time each week.

Which language will be best for me?
Choosing your language is a very personal decision. Our most popular language courses tend to be for French, Spanish & Italian. These languages are not as difficult as languages such as Japanese, Mandarin or Arabic and as such progress is quicker. If you have some previous knowledge of a language then this obviously makes the learning process much easier.

Do I have to take an exam?
It is not obligatory to take an exam during your course and the vast majority of our students come to learn a language for pleasure. Those students who feel that they study best when working towards a goal may benefit from preparing for an exam. There are a wide range of examinations that students can be prepared for at the Centre (GCSE, A Level, CBLC, DELPH, DALPH, DELE) just to name but a few.

How much homework will I have to do?
In order to make the very most of your course it is essential that you complete the homework set by your teacher. We understand that this might not always be possible and you won’t be told off by your teacher if you haven’t found the time to do your homework. Obviously it is in your best interests to complete the homework. All we ask is that students try and put 1 hour aside each week for homework assignments. Homework may take the form of a small grammar exercise or short reading comprehension.

Am I too old to learn a language?
You are never too old to learn a language and age certainly is no barrier. We’ve had students aged 4 − 80 studying with us.

I was bad at languages at school, will I be able to learn a language now?
Many of our students are quite surprised at just how different learning a language at the Marlow Language Centre is in comparison to their experiences at school. Our teachers are very good at preparing lessons that are interesting and fun for students and ensure lessons have a fresh feel. Language learning has developed over the last 30 years and the methods employed by our teachers mean that even those who don’t consider themselves gifted linguists can make very good progress through our courses.

From what age should my child start learning a language?
We accept students from the age of 4. We feel that this is perfect age for children to start learning a language as they are particular receptive to foreign languages. Our kids courses introduce children to the language helping them to recognise sounds and build vocabulary.

Can I take classes at home?
As a general rule we don’t send our teachers to students' homes as we feel that there are too many distractions when taking classes at home. Students who come to the Centre take their classes in an academic environment. This helps with concentration and focus, as students understand they are coming to learn a language without any distractions.

What is the latest time I can have classes in the evening?
Students can take classes from 07:30 in the morning. The Marlow Language Centre shuts at 20:00. The latest possible time that you can schedule a lesson is 19:00 – 20:00.

What can I expect to learn from a 24 hour 1 to 1 course?
We recommend a minimum of 24 hours' tuition for students to make real progress with the language. Students who come to us as complete beginners can expect to reach a Pre-Intermediate level after a 24 hour 1 to 1 course. This means that they can carry out tourist tasks, talk about themselves and ask questions about others as well as maintaining conversations at a basic level. Students who are gifted linguists may be able to achieve more than this.

What can I expect during a lesson?
Your class will contain a blend of conversation, grammar and listening activities. The course will be structured around a course textbook, however your teacher will not religiously follow this textbook page by page. Your teacher will select sections from the book that they feel will be relevant to you. Teachers will also use their own personal materials and use articles taken from newspapers/magazines and the internet.

Can I learn more than one language at once?
Learning a foreign language is a challenge and we recommend that students concentrate all their efforts on just one language.

How much will it cost?
Prices can vary between £8 – £35 + VAT per hour dependent on the type of language and tuition type (1 to 1, tutorial, Group, GCSE, A level, Childrens' classes). Course costs range from £100 - £900 + VAT depending on course length and tuition type.

How can I be sure that the Marlow language Centre’s methods will
work for me?
We have 20 years' experience teaching students of differing levels who’ve wanted to learn foreign languages for varying reasons. The experience we have built up means that regardless of the ability of our students we know exactly which teaching approach will best suit them ensuring they achieve the results they want!