2-week Intensive German Programme for 5th Year students
21 June 2025 – 05 July 2025
Organised close to Munich, Bavaria, this 2-week course involves the participation of Irish students in regular classes of a Gymnasium (Secondary School) while living at the home of one of its pupils. This course is designed to complement the Leaving Certificate Syllabus, in the context of a German Immersion giving students a strong foundation in communication skills (oral/aural).
Prior to Departure
A Meeting is held for parents and students and provides practical and detailed information about the course. A workshop is subsequently organised in Dublin and Students are furnished with their Portfolio and documentation.Â
At School in Germany
To gain fluency, residing in a country does not suffice. Only a studious approach with regular homework and some qualified support will make the difference. The Local Contact assists the student in completing the Portfolio with daily assigned tasks. Grammar and Written drills are introduced accordingly. The support classes are taught by a qualified native teacher who is familiar with the Leaving Certificate and the Irish exam marking schemes.
The Irish student is fully integrated among German students and is taught all subjects through German. The German  curriculum offers a wide range of subjects which vary from one Gymnasium (school) to another. This placement dramatically improves the  student’s fluency and  becomes a bonus for oral and written exams and  for life. Irish students enjoy their time, gain new friends and mature a lot.
At the Home of a German Student
Staying at the home of a German student  provides comfort and safe surroundings. Becoming a member of the family gives access to a large group of friends whose everyday language is indeed German. It can also give a contact, often remaining for life. As a representative of their family and country, students are expected to participate in family life, to be cooperative, courteous and to partake in normal chores and duties. We reserve the right to refuse an enrolment for reasons we deem valid. What is learned is more than an  essential foreign language.   If motivated and open-minded, what is often initially perceived as a daunting adventure becomes an enjoyable and maturing experience.
How to Enrol
- €400 non-refundable booking deposit must be sent with the completed application form to Living Language Office.
- Placement can only be initiated after enrolment has been received and the Test and the interview conducted
- Accommodation at the home of a German  student is subject to availability and are only possible for enrolments confirmed 2 months prior to departure date.
- Balance payable one month prior to departure
Price
- €2300
- Special price for the first 4 enrolments :  €1980
The price includes
- Induction Course (in Dublin)
- Immersion in a Secondary School (Small numbers per Gymnasium)
- German School fees
- Support and Follow-Up throughout the stayÂ
- Full Board Accommodation at the home of a German studentÂ
- Land transfers in Germany
The price does not include
- Flights
- Public Liability InsuranceÂ
- Medical Insurance
- Public transport & extra-curricular activities (school excursion etc.).
Focus on the German Leaving cert Oral & Aural
- Higher and Ordinary Level German Oral and Aural components : 45% of total  Students, who travel abroad for a minimum of 2 weeks, show an increased understanding not just of the language but also of the culture, and this is of benefit in every section of the paper.
- Fluency in German bonus: Students also find the speed of the speakers on the SEC CDs slower than the speed that they have become accustomed to while abroad; and this helps to increase their listening mark.
- At the LC oral exam, Candidates are often asked about differences between life in Ireland and Germany, or to contrast the school systems, the food or the culture. The 5th Year Intensive Course considerably enriches the knowledge of the German language.
- Excellent pronunciation after the 5th Year Intensive Course
- Better understanding of the German way of life
- Better comprehension of vocabulary
- Increased confidence in speaking the language and better fluency
- An openness to the idea of using German after the Leaving Cert (business, holidays, job…)
- A certain expertise and knowledge that they can contribute in class
Keys of Success of the 5th Year German Course
- At the Home of a German Student
- Immersion in a German Secondary School
- Small numbers per Gymnasium
- Support & Assistance by the Local Contact
- Natural German Environment
- 45 years experience