Between kilt and textbook
An English language holiday in Scotland
Bagpipes, golf, whisky, the Highlands and kilts – five things that are always associated with Scotland. Although they give a good first overview of the northernmost country of Great Britain, they cannot reflect the full diversity of Scotland. On a language holiday in Scotland, you have the opportunity to discover it for yourself while improving your English!
The great hospitality of the Scots, the breathtaking nature and the wealth of culture make the country a favourite destination for language travellers. The numerous traditions, which go back far into the past and are still practised today, also fascinate many visitors. Yet Scotland is not at all old-fashioned and dusty: the cities offer plenty of hustle, bustle and action for those who cannot sit still.
A language holiday between the unspoilt Highlands and the culturally rich, modern cities therefore becomes an unforgettable experience!
The destination for nature lovers
Natural wonders in the Highlands
You know them from pictures: the green Highlands and unforgettable landscapes of Scotland. They offer the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city – whether at home or at the language school. The vast, almost untouched nature offers many leisure opportunities. You can visit old castles, palaces and ruins, watch wildlife and visit legendary “lochs” (lakes). If you are lucky and the weather conditions are good, you can even see the northern lights. Scottish nature is full of romance and charm, perfect for travellers looking for that kind of atmosphere.
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Impressions of Scottish landscapes
The best destinations
Experience Scotland’s most beautiful cities
Scotland’s so-called Central Belt is home to most of its approx. 5.3 million inhabitants (as of 2015). This area is also where Scotland’s best-known cities are located: Glasgow and Edinburgh. They show the other side of historic Scotland, with an extensive range of cultural activities, lots of opportunities to meet new people and an exciting nightlife. But cities such as Aberdeen and St Andrews – the birthplace of golf – also have their special charms.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and lies on the east coast of the country. With its impressive and beautiful medieval architecture, the city has certainly earned the nickname “Athens of the North”, which the German writer Theodor Fontane gave Edinburgh. Edinburgh is known for its old city centre and above all for Edinburgh Castle – a medieval castle that towers over the city. The architectural style – especially in the Old Town – gives Edinburgh a fairy-tale quality.
There are two city centres, the “Old Town” and the “New Town”, which are separated by Princes Street Gardens. The New Town is characterised in particular by its neoclassical style and, with its magnificent columns and ornamentation, contrasts with the Old Town’s narrow winding lanes.
Edinburgh is also known above all for its wide range of cultural offerings. Besides numerous museums and galleries, exciting festivals take place here every year. But anyone who thinks Edinburgh is purely a tourist city is mistaken. Edinburgh is above all a student city: around 10% of its inhabitants are students. As befits a student city, there are plenty of places to go out as well as the wide range of culture. It is no coincidence that Edinburgh has been voted the best place to live in Great Britain several times. In Edinburgh, the medieval buildings merge with the brightly painted façades of small restaurants and shops.
The enchanting city of culture offers the best conditions not only for a short trip but for living. You won’t get bored quickly in Edinburgh, and Scotland’s nature is just a stone’s throw away!
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is known in particular as Edinburgh’s counterpart. The cities are less than an hour’s drive apart and yet could not be more different. Glasgow was a traditional working-class city and cannot score points like Edinburgh with a castle and chic neoclassical architecture. Glasgow is often overshadowed by Edinburgh and is nowhere near as popular a destination for tourists, although the working-class city is no longer an unknown travel tip.
Above all, the former industrial city wins people over with its rough charm and creative flair. The city has meanwhile blossomed into a cultural metropolis and is even an officially recognised UNESCO City of Music and European City of Culture.
Wherever you look in Glasgow, you can see the influences of the modern art scene. The Glasgow School of Art is an institution that has strongly shaped the cityscape and the city’s reputation. In the university building, you can take guided tours given by the students themselves.
Glasgow may not be as posh as its neighbour Edinburgh, but Glasgow has everything that is fun: there are plenty of bars and nightclubs and therefore also a huge range of different styles of music.
Many pubs and bars in Glasgow offer relaxed live music, and lots of concerts take place all the time. After all, it is no coincidence that Glasgow is a UNESCO City of Music – well-known bands such as Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand and Belle and Sebastian also come from Glasgow.
Aberdeen
Scotland’s third-largest city has several nicknames: Silver City, Granite City or Flower City. Aberdeen earned the first thanks to the silver-grey granite from the old quarries, which was once used to build many buildings and glitters in the sunlight. Aberdeen received the last name in the course of what are now 13 awards as Best City in the Britain in Bloom competition, which the city was able to win thanks to its artfully laid-out flower displays.
With medieval Old Aberdeen and Footdee, known to locals as Fittie, a lively fishing quarter by the water, Aberdeen even offers two old-town areas.
In summer, Old Aberdeen hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival with musical styles such as rock, jazz and folk, but the district is a student favourite all year round.
Aberdeen offers many leisure activities as well as shops, bars, restaurants and music events. But there is also a lot of nature in the city itself. Numerous parks, gardens and green spaces can be admired, and the sandy beach is an excellent place to watch dolphins – it is even said to be one of the best places in Europe for it!
Very close to Aberdeen are the Cairngorms, Great Britain’s largest national park, and the so-called Castle Country. In the Cairngorms you can watch lots of wildlife and go hiking in stunning nature, while in Castle Country, as the name suggests, there are over 300 ruins, castles and palaces that attract many visitors.
Although Aberdeen is missing from many tourist maps, the city has an extraordinary flair; people from all over the world study, work and live here. Perhaps Aberdeen is so charismatic precisely because, as a language student, you really experience everyday life there during your time instead of only looking at it from the outside as a tourist.
Impressions of Scotland’s cities
Language course in Scotland
Scotland’s hidden cultural treasures
Many of Scotland’s cultural peculiarities are widely known. Nevertheless, things like the bagpipes, kilts and whisky are only the tip of the iceberg. The numerous festivals that take place throughout the year, the growing food scene, the traditional dishes and the incomparable bond with the game of golf are further cultural aspects of Scotland that only become clear during a language stay.
Alongside all the traditions, Scotland is also modern. This can be seen above all in the music scene: the country regularly produces new, popular artists. Good examples are Amy MacDonald, CHVRCHES and Calvin Harris. You can be fairly sure that all these stars would be pretty likeable if you met them. Because Scots really are very open, warm-hearted, a little crazy and extremely humorous.
The language of the Scots
No need to fear Scottish English
Many people have concerns about a language course in Scotland: Will I only learn this Scottish dialect there? I’m there to learn English, after all! What if I don’t understand it? These worries are unfounded, however: on an English language course you learn normal, internationally used English, in Scotland too.
Scottish English could only become a challenge outside lessons, but Scots mostly speak it only among themselves. You could compare it with Bavarians, who can likewise switch to standard German when they notice that the person they are talking to doesn’t understand Bavarian. Over the centuries, Scottish English has produced its own words and developed a slightly different intonation from standard English. Language teachers can also easily give students an overview of the differences in the language. So on a language holiday in Scotland, you not only practise standard English but also gain an insight into Scottish English!
Why a language holiday in Scotland?
- On a language holiday in Scotland, you will find an incomparable range of nature, culture and leisure activities that make your language course unforgettable!
- Our partner schools in Scotland offer professional English lessons for every language level and give you an exciting
- range of leisure activities – including special sports such as golf or horse riding if you wish.
- You can take your language course in some of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain.
- An English language holiday in Scotland not only gives you the chance to improve your English, but you can also learn a little Scottish English.
