I don't recommend GLS unless you are learning for a hobby, rather than out of necessity. I had quite an unfortunate experience there (which I will outline below) and will not be returning. It's my impression that the office of this school is disorganised, which causes a lot of problems for the students.
I spent my first month here in Berlin taking an intensive course at another school (5 days a week) to achieve the European A1.1 level. I decided that the scheduling (2x/week) as well as the location of GLS suited me better. I enrolled in person, and made sure to mention that I had taken an intensive course at another school. I received an e-mail confirmation of my registration, providing a link to make a payment, as well as telling me that I would receive a phone call within the next week in order to gage my language level. This call did not come - but I did not think anything of it. I am a busy freelancer, and also dealing with a lot of scary new things that come with moving to a new country.
On the first day of class, the teacher began by doing some very simple exercises, at which I asked 'Am I in the correct class? I am looking for A1.2'. I was confused when looking at my textbook - since it said A1.1 on the cover. The teacher assured me that it was level A1.2. What I was not aware of at the time, is that GLS uses a different levelling system compared to other schools in Berlin. It does not, however, explain any of this on their website. It was also not explained to me when I applied in person for the course. I continued in the course, trusting that the school had done their due diligence to put me in the proper course for my level. I assumed that the first couple of lessons were a review from the previous level. But it continued to be things that I had already learned at my previous school - which I made sure to mention to the teacher. She did not make any comment about it. At the end of the class, I even asked if the next level was A2.1. She said yes.
In addition during my first course there, the teacher was away for one week and could not teach our classes. It was unclear whether we would have a supply teacher, or reschedule the days of the course. The day that that we were supposed to have our lesson, I had still not received any kind of information via email, as promised, about if and when the class would be rescheduled. I had to call the school (be transferred between many departments) and ask. This was frustrating for me, because I am a full time freelancer, and cannot just reschedule my work at a moment's notice. The faculty should have been more organised, and myself and my classmates should have been given more notice about the status of our classes that week.
Fast forward for two months later. I had the time to enrol in the next level, and did so online this time. I was sent an invoice (on which it does not confirm which level I have enrolled in) When I arrived to the first day, it appeared that they had put me in the wrong course. The course that I had asked to have been enrolled in via the online application form was not actually running at all. I became very frustrated and upset, and left the school. I received a call later from one of the coordinators, explaining to me that I had actually not finished A1.2, and there were more levels that I had to complete before I did A2.1
???????????
This is when I learned that they had misplaced me in my first course with them, and I had taken the equivalent of what I had already taken at another school. I wasted 200 Euros, and an entire month of time, because of their mistake. The coordinator went so far as to place the blame on me, stating that I should have spoken to someone about it if I thought the course was too easy. I did mention this! Several times to my instructor! I am not sure how much more due diligence I should have taken - I guess I should not have trusted the teacher to understand the course structure at this particular school(?) I suppose I assumed that she was qualified for her position, and understood the particular levelling system this school used.
This situation could have easily been avoided, had the faculty member that I first enrolled with taken an extra few minutes to assess my level, or ask more about my previous course. Even if my teacher took a hint that, hey - I have already learned all of this before. Maybe she is in the wrong class.
It seems that the larger part of their income at this school comes from international students staying in the hotel and taking courses there. It seems that they do not take care as much about people living and working in Berlin, such as myself - since I don't generate nearly as much profit as these international students. I am not the only person in my class who had communication and placement issues with the office at GLS. I hope those who see this review take their time and money elsewhere. Ain't nobody got time for such an absolute disaster. What a nightmare this has been. read more