Good language schools for slightly older students - Berlin

OK so I know Ive been asking about schools now for a while but I keep changing my mind on the school I've chosen as I think it may be a bit too young. I thought I had made up my mind to go to GLS in Pberg and I thought this would be great because it was in the location I wanted but then I heard it's all 18-24 year olds and thats not really what Im looking for. My question is I suppose can anyone recommend a good school in the Mitte, Kreuzberg, Pberg areas that is primarily attended by older students. To be honest I am doing German classes to meet people and not so much to learn German! The most important thing for me is that I am in a class with people in or around my age group. Im travelling on my own so it's crucial I get into the right environment or else I'll spend my summer on my ownios!!! Im reluctant to book GLS just yet as Im not sure it's right just yet, oh by the way Im 31 and an Irish girl!! please tell me your stories about the schools you went to. thanks

If its any consolation, I am in my thirties and have enrolled at the same school as you. I´m doing an evening course though as I work.

I hope you find what you´re looking for. Perhaps you can raise your concerns with the school and see whether they can match you to a group with people more of your age group?

cat

I studied at:

http://www.neueschule.de/

It is not in the area you are looking for. The people is normaly 25+ because it is expensive and most of the students are already working.

I did my first course at Die Neue Schule (also). I'm 32 and I think I was the oldest or maybe 2nd oldest in the class, but not by much. Most of the people were mid to late 20s as Krieg says, and I met some great people who I still speak to. Class sizes are 10 max.

Then I did the Volkshochschule for my second course (finished last week) mainly because it was about half the price. Class size was 20. Personally I found a more interesting mix of people at the VHS. Also, I was not the youngest, but not far from it. Most of the class was mid 30s to early 40s, and included everyone from Married muslim women with children, to single guys looking to grab a beer and see the city, from eastern europeans to western europeans, to asians, (I was the only American).

BTW, at Die Neue Schule you can I believe sign up for as much or as little as you like. So you can pay for only 2 weeks, and if you don't like the group, check out another place, and if you do you can always continue. The VHS is a state institution and functions more in terms of semesters with distinct start and end times.

Anyway, meeting people is surprisingly easy here.

Thanks folks I have done what you suggested and emailed GLS asking them about the grouping of classes etc (eh don't know why i didn't think of it myself! ) and I also emailed the VSH but they haven't gotten back to me yet, the other Die Neue Schule's start dates are wrong for me as Ive booked my flight etc. Im actually a bit stuck at this stage becasue I don't want to make a wrong decision as I feel it's my best opportunity to meet people. Very consoling to hear it's suprisingly easy to meet people too! thanks

would love to hear others stories of schools and how they got on in Berlin etc

Aren't you the person I sent extensive info about GLS to months ago?? You are really waaaay overthinking this. Just make an educated guess as to where you might be reasonably happy and enroll somewhere, already. If you have that many expectations, then you're just asking to be disappointed no matter where you go.

I went to the Hartnackschule for 9 months or so. Met a lot of Russians and Chinese. Good for grammar and writing - not so good for talking.
http://www.hartnackschule-berlin.de/english/

I also went to the Volkshochschulen here a few times, also OK, again people are OK, met a few English people.

The best place where I met interesting people was the Goethe Institut in London. Maybe try the Goethe Institut here in Berlin if you have the money.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Fribble. No matter how much research you do you're not going to find the perfect group. But I just started my 3rd class last week (at a different VHS) and there's been interesting people in each class I've been in. At this point, take your best guess and go for it.

(And BTW aren't you the one who pointed me to your myspace page, but still hasn't approved my friend request? )

I'm at BSI in Kreuzberg, and I think that the age range in my class seems to be pretty broad- many soon-to-be grad student types in their late twenties (med school students from Yemen, film students from Georgia, PhD candidates from Morocco), folks looking to learn the language and find a social circle of their own outside of their German boyfriends/girlfriends (me and others) plus those doing their integration requirement. I think you would be happy here- and the price is right, although the building is old and a bit depressing.

Do you think these schools are worth it if your German is already at a decent level? I'll be arriving in Berlin in a couple weeks and will be there through the end of July, interning at a law firm (I'm a law student). I was a high school exchange student for a year, and I considered myself fluent by the end of that, but it's been 14 years now since I've spent any significant amount of time in Germany! I've done a couple of the online language placement tests, and they put me at C1.

I'm a little nervous about my firm thinking my German isn't good enough. I plan to cram as much German as I can when I get done with my law school finals, but I'm not sure how much difference a week will really make.

Anyway, I'm thinking about taking evening classes in Berlin this summer (wouldn't want more than 2-3 nights a week). Has anyone done evening classes you feel were really helpful, particularly once you already speak decent German?

oh sorry Moe have just logged in now and approved you!!! Thanks everybody I think I know what Im going to do, I wanted to get a good indication of what other schools were like too before I made my decision. I hope it works out, if it doesn't Ill blame you all

You'll be fine, jellybean, just dive in!

thanks am gonna just go for it. Right now next...subletting a room... are ya ready fribble we've a lot of research to do do on this one!!!

Oh god help me. haha.

I saw a reference somewhere on here about the language classes that were good and virtually free. I think they are run by the city or state to get immigrants speaking German. Does anyone know which they are? (I believe the reference said 'if you don't mind them being filled with old turkish ladies.')

I need to improve my german, but I would rather not pay private school prices.

Lauren

From the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: Integration courses.

Well I am 22 years old and starting at GLS in mid-May as a beginner. I'll let you know if I only see a bunch of 18-24 year olds in my class and around the campus.

i am 26 and looking for a school to learn german next year ( i come to berlin end of this year from Australia) . I want to also be able to get a student visa, what kind of courses are available i would like a longgggg one if possible any help and advice would be great

Well I had my first evening class at GLS last night and it was really good. There were six of us plus the teacher. Admittedly, I was the oldest at 30, but the teacher was 27, the youngest was 20 and the rest were 24-27. Suits me fine!