Alfaskolen — Local services in Oslo

In short: the best teachers and the worst organization

I have visited 3 different courses, and had a great teaching experience with all three teachers.

However, the way school organized is poor in my opinion. First of all, they do not allow to join another group to cover missed lessons. I understand the different capabilities of groups, different pace and other stuff. However, i have experienced myself that system in few other schools and it works good. But Alfaskolen ignores all proposals.

Secondly, when i finished B1 course I was aiming to start B2, but it never happened. I have registered for the course and it was cancelled, i have registered for the next, it was cancelled again. Then i registered for 6th of January (this year) and it was cancelled, after that i tried to register for 20th of January and what do you think? Correct! IT WAS CANCELLED AGAIN. I am talking right now about evening intensive course (best solution for people who work daytime or study). What they could do? Their marketing could be better, because finding just 6 people to start the course should not be that difficult, especially when you have great teachers. They could call people who have registered for the course and propose another solution. They could ask people from daytime intensive to join evening course. I am not saying force, but explain the situation, give a discount and just ask. NOTHING WAS DONE. They have not even called me saying "We apologize for canceling course 4 times in a raw'.

To sum up, i will repeat again that school has very good teachers, but at the same time it cannot organize and run courses that...

I’ve been attending B1 course and it will probably be the last one I’m taking with you. The materials offered at the course are not adjusted to the level. As a language school your duty is to choose the best leading book possible. Unfortunately methodically they don’t work. The topics at B1 level, they are normally tackled at, at least, B2 level in other languages. I speak 3 foreign languages (without Norwegian) so I have used countless amount of books. During the classes, one day we talk about dieting, health and stuff (super cool, great topic for the B1), the other day we talk about King’s speech… Well, if you can’t see that there are two different language levels then it’s sad. I fully understand that this is how the book was written and so on but I would never choose it if I had to teach someone a language. I also didn’t get any additional materials that at least could cover the stuff I need to revise. Learning a language is not only cramming the new vocabulary but also an active repetition. Not to mention that we’re rushing with the topics at such a high pace that a week after I hardly remember anything from the chapters before. I don’t feel we have it well-explained enough to “close” the chapter and move on. Maybe it’s good for someone who wants to take Norskprøve but for some reason it doesn’t...

Not recommended. Poor administration. Find another language school.

I signed up for the A1 course at Alfaskolen, which is a two-part course consisting the A1-1 and A1-2 courses. Upon completion of the A1-1 course, I notified Alfaskolen via email that I would not be able to attend the A1-2 course because of demands from the international non-profit organisation for which I work. Alfaskolen initially ignored my email and charged me for the A1-2 part that I did not attend. Alfaskolen stated that I could attend the A1-2 course some other time, but when I asked for a refund, they rejected that offer and refused to refund me for the A1-2 course that I never attended. I even offered to pay the highest possible rate for the A1-1 course I attended. When I stated to Alfaskolen that I did not want to pay for a course I did not attend, and that I thought their actions were unfair and unbecoming of a language school, whose mission should be educating students, they appeared to threaten to sue me! Alfaskolen said, “I hope you know that slander, libel and defamation are criminal offenses.”

I DO NOT RECOMMEND that anyone attend Alfaskolen. It appears they are focused more on making money than on educating students. Do yourself a favor, find another...