About us

Why inlingua?

Languages change your life

What we stand for – now for half a century

At inlingua Biel we have three key values: quality, efficiency and service. This applies to every aspect of our work. Our highest priority is to ensure that every client’s learning experience is as positive and productive as possible.

Our passionate and engaged team’s means to achieve these goals are among others: regular trainings and further development for all our staff, “consequent” application of the inlingua method and our exclusive materials, transparent, timely and appropriate communication, as well as internal and external quality assurance processes such as the ISO21001-certification.

The inlingua method’s success is based on 10 principles:

1. Target language

Only the target language is used during the lesson.

2. Speaking

The main training strategy is learning through speaking. The focus on writing and reading is dictated by the learner’s needs.

3. Learners

Learners speak more than the trainer.

4. Practice

Learners acquire language skills through examples and practice rather than theoretical explanations.

5. Check

Trainers check the extent of the learner’s knowledge before teaching new material. Learners are tested regularly.

6. Individual needs

Trainers tailor lessons to the individual needs of learners.

7. Participation

Learners can be creative and participate in real communication during a lesson.

8. Use of Language

Trainers correct mistakes in such a way that learners develop skill in self-correction and learn to use the language independently.

9. Variety

Trainers use a variety of teaching techniques to keep the learning atmosphere positive.

10. Materials

Student books are closed during most of a lesson.

Our teachers are experienced, qualified, enthusiastic professionals, who provide training at native-speaker level.

As a service provider in the continuing education sector, with a teaching staff of approximately 20, one of our central concerns is to provide ongoing assistance by offering constant internal and external training sessions for example.

Whether group or individual instruction, each course is allocated its own specified teacher, sometimes over several years, allowing him or her to assume personal responsibility for your success.

We keep our classes small, to give you plenty of opportunity to speak and receive individual attention.

At inlingua Biel, each participant begins by receiving an individual consultation session with one of our student advisors. Current written and verbal language skills are tested, personal learning goals are defined, questions are answered and a personalised training programme consisting of group instruction or individual tutoring is recommended. The recommended programme takes into account both your schedule and your financial circumstances.

At inlingua you can begin a course at any time. Individual tutoring and company courses are organised to meet the customer’s needs. As far as group training at our school is concerned, you are welcome to begin at your earliest convenience any time a slot in an existing group becomes available.

The inlingua office team is concerned first and foremost with ensuring the quality of our services in every aspect. Our team is keen to provide customer satisfaction in every respect and is available by phone weekdays between 08:00 and 19:00. In addition, it is responsible for issuing certificates of participation and providing information on administrative matters such as pricing, course dates and testing.

We use our own teaching materials, developed at inlingua’s central office in Bern. The study materials were developed to work best in conjunction with inlingua’s proven teaching methodology. Our teachers are trained to use the inlingua method and receive additional training on a regular basis to ensure that instruction is provided systematically and effectively.

We offer instruction on site at numerous companies in Biel and the surrounding areas, so that course participants can benefit from classes without having to travel.

We are well aware that the inlingua method will always only be as good as the trainers using it. That is why we invest in our trainers’ qualifications and continuous development. They are usually native speakers or they are able to use the language at native speaker level. We however especially value their personal interest in their students’ learning experience and learning progress.

All our trainers, even experienced language teaching professionals, are obliged to participate in a two-week training course about the inlingua method, before they can start working for inlingua Biel.

Our trainers‘ further development then takes place in various regular compulsory workshops about pedagogical topics. In this way we ensure that both our trainers and our clients benefit from state-of-the-art language teaching expertise.