Ideal for if you want to be at a school centrally located and right by the river.
Not ideal for students with mobility issues as they have several floors but no lifts.
The good
- A great employability programme and welfare support is available.
- Great on-site facilities.
- 50-minute lessons.
The bad
- Limited range of courses.
Date of my inspection visit at Atlas Language School Dublin: May 10, 2024
My overall take
Atlas Language School (Atlas) is in the centre of Dublin, right by the canal and opposite the EC English Centre (EC). As with EC, it is a popular location for students and locals alike, especially on summer weekends. At first sight, the building is stunning and grand, with high ceilings in the foyer and a chandelier to maintain the charm.
The main talking point that stood out at Atlas was the communal areas. The main communal area is the cafeteria on the ground floor, where hot and cold food is sold before lessons, during breaks and at lunch. Additionally, on the first floor, there is another seating area for students to study, eat, or meet with fellow students.
Notice boards are dotted all over the school so students have all the information they need at their fingertips, from exams and dates to educational clubs and job opportunities. Much like ISI Dubin, Atlas are beneficial when it comes to helping students find jobs. They have an entire job board on the ground floor where they advertise all the different incoming job opportunities from various local organisations.
Quality is at the forefront of all the services they provide, and they pride themselves on the quality of their teaching, customer service, and welfare support provided to the students. This school would be perfect for students who want to take their studies seriously. So if you want to get the best value for money, this would be the school for you.
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Atlas Language School Dublin at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.0 (20 reviews) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average Max. 15 students in General English course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Excellent Diversity No nationality more than 15% Top nationality: Mexican |
| Learning intensity | 1-2 hours of homework per week |
| Number of students | 370 adults in July 270 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 18 years |
| Accreditations | Eaquals, IALC, ACELS, ELT |
| Course range | General English Fluency, General English Fluency Plus, FCE, CAE, IELTS Exam Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Student Residence, School Owned Residence |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 50min/lesson | 1 week: €300 3 weeks: €900 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €75 Course material fee: €35 |
| Price Level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €20.10 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.
“This school has fantastic teachers. I have been in this school for six months. When I arrived at this school, I couldn’t speak English, but now I can converse with people from other countries.“
Yulk
28 years from Taiwan
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Paul McMahon, Head of Sales at Atlas Language School Dublin.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
Paul McMahon: “Apart from the building, it’s what we offer, we offer quality. Throughout the school, in terms of the services we offer the staff, the teachers, the free electives, the trips, the social programme. I think the best way to describe Atlas is quality.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
Paul McMahon: “Students that thrive at Atlas are the ones that want to learn, the ones that want to study. With every student that comes to us, whether they study in the morning or the afternoon… someone wants to get the best out of their time and their money as well.”
School inspection report
Classrooms
Most of the classrooms are quite large in size and modern with full-sized tables and chairs. There are also interactive whiteboards in 50% of the classrooms.
Facilities
There is a well-furnished cafeteria on the ground floor, where food is sold at student-friendly prices. There is also a seating area and mini library corner on the first floor.
Surrounding area
Bars and restaurants are close to Atlas, and the school is within a 15-minute public transport journey from Dublin’s city centre. It is also opposite another large language school (EC English School), so students can quickly meet with other people from different schools.
Social activities
Unlike many other schools, Atlas has a dedicated study club programme AND a separate social programme so that students can participate in extra studies should they wish. They also enjoy creative and unique activities such as creating tote bags or participating in a video games night.
Trusted student ratings of Atlas Language School Dublin on the web
| Total | 4.0 (20 reviews) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.0 (20 reviews) |
