GLS Berlin language school

hello. i finally decided, i should go to berlin this summer, after going back and forth between leipzig and etc.
i have also decided i will take intensive courses at GLS, primarily b/c of location, but don't really know much about that school other than what i find on their website which doesn't say anything about how good the school actually is in terms of teaching. so i was wondering if anyone took courses there and how they feel about it. i plan to study intensive for 4 months (hopefully leading to ZD, from nothing). i am especially interested in the pace/rigor/ amount of homework given, etc.

by the way, something i noticed with every language school in berlin.. why are their accommodation so expensive relative to most listings on wg-gesucht.de?
i wish i could afford their housing so i dont have to look for my own accommodation (esp. when i dont speak a word of german, it's so hard), but >500 euros per month for a shared accommodation (albeit with breakfast) seem a bit too much for me to handle. (sigh) i don't even eat that much breakfast.

i suppose you pay that much because you'd be pretty much on site and would be spared from looking for accommodation on your arrival..

if you are not up for paying that much money you should just come over and look for a room yourself.
learn some basic sentences before coming regarding flat-hunting and ask if they speak english when you call to inquire about rooms.

spare yourself from writing emails, they hardly get answered unless they specify to email.

good luck!

i am currently debating whether i should try to find a place now (over the internet) or do last minute search once i am actually in berlin. but i feared that latter would be too risky (lest i don't find housing soon enough and end up at a hostel for weeks on end).


which reminds me.. i found this very odd:

i have been e-mailing in the last week and have not received a single reply yet, which i found to be strange as e-mail is usually the best mode of communication here at least where i live.. the most preferred shall i say.. do people generally not respond to e-mails?? is this common in germany?

emailing is usually a lot more time consuming, so if you rang them that would simply speed up the process.
and surely they may not reply because you are not in berlin yet or because it's too early to look. most people will post an ad looking to find someone to take over a few weeks later.

my advice is to look for a place as you get here or at least get some of your viewings arranged a few days prior to your arrival so that you've already got some rooms to see.

hope this helps

hallo, i've just started at GLS (living on campus as well) and i can tell u it's a very good school. Classes are not too big (we have 8-10 ppl in mine) and the teachers and facilities are really really good. lots of young ppl from all around the world, and great location. I'd definitely recommend it.. living on campus is pretty expensive but a good idea for at least the first couple of weeks, until u get settled in and acquainted.. or you could do a shared flat organised by GLS, but it costs about the same and prob not as convenient (although u do get ur own room)

hope this helps! let me know if u have any more questions

Hiya vinterdrog, I have the exact same questions in my head!!! I've picked GLS and I don't know what to do about accommodation either. It sucks that a weeks accommodation on the campus is the same as a month's off campus. Ive been thinking I might just book a week first and from there then look for a place. It's too hard here when I don't even know the city yet. Have you made any decisions?

I did a 6 week German course at the GLS on Kastanienallee in Berlin, and it was a pile of shite. The class was small enough (4 or 5 people), but the teacher was fresh out of university and relied heavily on photocopied handouts. There was no concept checking, hardly any meaningful practice exercises, and no checking of pronunciation. In short, very poor value for money. Don't bother.

Really oh no, back to the drawing board for me then, was there a good social scene in the place? what age group etc. Half the reason Im going to study is to meet people. Im going over on my own for 2 months and I want to do something when Im there so I I have a way to meet people. I thought GLS looked good on the website

You might want to check what other sort of things have been posted by the people commenting on this language school. Then you might be able to assess their comments in a bit more context. People do have different priorites after all.

I'm sorry but I don't know the school (or indeed the area particularly) so I can't be of that much help.

Kommentarlos no worries and thanks for your reply, I am getting total mixed m opinions about this school and I dont know what to do now!!!

There's going to be an element of pot luck wrt what teacher you get. A good school with a bad teacher = a bad learning experience and vice versa.

Hey jellybean100 - Berlin is a great city, and you are making the right choice coming here to learn German and meet people. There are lots of interesting people and places to check out. My advice is not to worry too much about the school you choose - it's mostly up to yourself really when it comes to learning a language - and the more you get out and practice, the better anyway.

Don't mind what FirstCitizen says - he is negative about pretty much everything and everybody except himself - check out his other posts if you don't believe me.

So get over here - I'm sure you will have a good time - it's probably the easiest city in the world to meet people and have a good time.

All the best,

Colin

(P.S. I'm also Irish - all the way from Rathfarnham, Dublin)