Ideal for students who want to be very centrally located in Dublin.
Not ideal for those who do not want to be at a busy school with many students.
The good
- 60-minute lessons (one of the longest lesson times in Dublin).
- One of the most affordable schools in Dublin.
- A large range of courses are offered for all needs and interests.
The bad
- Large student intake with a maximum capacity of 490 students.
Date of my inspection visit at ATC Language School Dublin: May 2, 2024
My overall take
ATC Language School (ATC) is one of Dublin’s best-located schools: a 2-minute walk to the main shopping streets, a 7-minute walk to Trinity College Dublin/The Book of Kells, and a short walk from the infamous Temple Bar area.
The things that stood out to me at ATC were the social and academic extracurricular activities. These activities include a weekly business class: CV writing, interview skills, presentation practice, pronunciation workshops, job fairs, Irish culture classes, Valentine’s Day speed-dating-style, speaking activities and a complimentary 15-minute tutor meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Additionally, the school is also over 45 years old and is therefore well established in its effective teaching methods.
There is only one communal area but it is very large, there is no cafeteria selling/serving food on site, however, there is a student kitchen that students can use to warm up their food. On the same floor, there is a meeting room that can be used for student group or project work.
From my observations, the staff and teachers are very friendly and international, so students can speak with them in their mother tongue if they need help with anything. I recommend this school to students who want a very hands-on approach from the staff at this school, as they have a team to cater to all different needs.
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ATC Language School Dublin at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.6 (7 reviews) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average Max. 15 students in General English course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Good Diversity No nationality more than 18%. Top nationality: Brazilian. |
| Learning intensity | 1 hour per week, students who want more can access extra study materials on ATC Online (e-learning platform) |
| Number of students | 180 adults + 40 juniors in July 120 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 15 years for specific junior courses |
| Accreditations | ACELS, ALTO, EQUALS, MEI, Select Ireland, Bildungsurlaub |
| Course range | General English, Intensive English, CLIL for Primary and Secondary Teachers, Irish Culture & English Language Development, Language Teaching in The Age of AI, Preparatory Certificate in ELT, Project-Based Learning in the Digital Age, Refresher Course for Language Teachers, STEAM Methodology for Primary and Secondary Teachers, FCE, CAE, IELTS Exam Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Student Residence |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 60min/lesson | 1 week: €315 3 weeks: €945 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €60 Course material fee: €80 |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €18.10 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Student voices
Unfiltered comments from random students I met at the school and asked about their experience.
“I can make lots of friends here, they are with me all the time… Every class we have is mixed, with speaking, reading, listening and I’m improving !”
Juliana
33 years from Brazil
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Bridget Costigan, Academic Manager of ATC Language School.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
Bridget Costigan: “We are passionate about delivering high-quality English courses, and we have a dedicated team of teachers and staff here that want to look after all of our student’s needs.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
Bridget Costigan: “Students that are really positive, motivated and really want to learn English because we can really help them and support them along their learning journey“
School inspection report
Classrooms
The classrooms are large, colourful and well-lit with large windows. The furnishing is in really good condition with full-sized tables and comfortable chairs. The school is set in a relatively large, modern building with a lift.
Facilities
There is a large communal area where the social activities coordinators are based. This area has ample seating, a pool table, guitar, piano and different board games to keep students entertained between classes. The facilities are well maintained, modern and plentiful to be shared amongst the students.
Surrounding area
Enviable location: a 2-minute walk to the main shopping streets, a 7-minute walk to Trinity College Dublin/The Book of Kells, and a short walk from the infamous Temple Bar area.
Social activities
ATC offer detailed and varied social activities. My favourite activities are job-related. Not only do they hold a business club where they teach students how to write CVs and cover letters and prepare for interviews, but they also host a job fair at the school where employers visit, and students practice their newly learned skills whilst securing a job. And that’s what you call “2 birds with one stone!”.
Residence
ATC has dedicated floors at the student residence “From Here”. The student residence is located in The Liberties area, less than a minute from several bus routes into the main city centre. It is also a 5-minute walk to the large supermarket Lidl and has a pet-friendly cafe at the bottom of the building.
The accommodation is very upscale. The bedrooms are well furnished and modern, with hotel-standard bathrooms and tastefully decorated modern kitchens.
The facilities include a large outdoor area with ping pong tables, a gym, a laundry room, a study room, meeting rooms, communal living spaces, a cinema room, and a large private dining room. They also have a really cool thrifting concept where students can leave their unwanted garments for other students to take.
Please note that “From Here” is the same student residence that EF International Dublin uses.
Trusted student ratings of ATC Language School Dublin on the web
| Total | 4.6 (7 reviews) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.6 (7 reviews) |
Ratings as of June 20, 2024
Why no Google or Facebook ratings? Schools may have requested Facebook, Google or Trustpilot reviews only from those students that previously gave positive after-course evaluations. I only trust ratings from independent booking platforms/agencies, that allow exclusively clients who booked via their platform to rate the schools. I have checked each of these sites above and they have no disproportional number of positive vs negative reviews.
