Apollo Language Centre has been operating since 2016 and is directed by the owners, Steven O’Dwyer and Aoife Govern. They have an adult centre running the whole year and they have 3 summer centres for students aged between 11 and 17. The school is the only English language centre in Ireland that won the ‘’Star Junior Programme for under 18s’ global industry Award. They were awarded in this category for three years in a row, in 2018, 2019, and 2020/2021. They won the ‘’Star New School’’ Award, being a finalist in the ‘’English language School - Europe’’ category in 2020/2021. Their mission is to make our students from all over the globe have the unforgettable Apollo Experience!
Apollo is a unique school that enables students to have a life experience along with superb English language courses. They designed the lessons regarding real-life situations so that students would easily learn the language and most importantly be able to practice it in real life. Their approach is based on a lifetime experience and the students and their goal are the primary focus. They are more than willing to help them reach their objectives and become the best versions of themselves with the professional academic team and staff. Apollo follows the students’ feedback on every topic through the end-of-week feedback and end-of-course feedback forms and in 24 hours the school’s team reaches out to the students to help them.
Apollo Language Centre provide long-term and short terms courses. The Real World English programs are available as Morning and Afternoon classes, starting every Monday. Morning classes are 20 hours per week between 09:00 and 13:15 Monday to Friday. Afternoon classes are 15 hours per week between 13:45 and 17:00 Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 14 students. They have 25 hours per week classes only available during summer from June to August. They also provide exam-focused classes such as IELTS Focus, FCE Focus, and CAE Focus.
They provide 25 Weeks Study & Work program, where the students can study and work at the same time. The student would have a part-time (20 hours per week) work permit during their 25 weeks course period. In their 10 weeks holiday period, they can work full time (40 hours per week).
In their main building, they have a canteen with access to a fridge, tea maker, microwave, vending machine, and arcade machine (games). On the second floor, they have a lounge/study area. Toilets on all floors.
Apollo Language Centre has a collaboration with Money Jar - a digital bank account powered by Mastercard. They enable the fastest help for the students to open a bank account in Ireland. They provide students with a code that is special to Apollo Language Centre and the students can easily create their accounts on the mobile app and create a demand for their card delivered to their address. Now they can easily make their transfers without spending so much time.
Every week, students have ‘’End of Course’’ tests that cover the lesson subjects they have learned that week. The students are tested each Friday on what they have studied that week.
Level tests are planned every Wednesday and this test does not involve the lesson subjects. It is basically the general English test. Regarding the level test which students take to move levels, this tests their general language ability and not the material covered that week. They have 3 methods of moving students: the weekly moving test, teacher feedback, and the end-of-course test.
At the end of Study&Work courses, students have to take the IELTS test. As Apollo is an IELTS test centre, the school books the exam dates for the students and they can take the test in the school just like on a regular school day. The students would not need to take other IELTS focus classes before their exam, because as their test day approaches, Apollo’s academic team starts to include IELTS subjects in their lessons. They will be prepared for the test.
Apollo Language Centre has two options for students who want to book accommodation with the school. One of them is a host family offered in the suburbs of Dublin, 30-45 minutes by public transport from school. They have a single-bedroom option with one nationality per family and double/twin rooms are available for friends traveling together. All their families are police-vetted and carefully inspected. Breakfast and dinner are included every day and 3 meals at weekends.
Another option that they provide the students is The Apollo Adult Residence, located at the Binary Hub, located next door to the Guinness Factory and only 10 minutes walk from Temple Bar and 35 minutes walk or 10 minutes by bus to the school. Modern fully-furnished bedroom with small double bed for 1 person and en suite bathroom. Students only share the kitchen and living room area with 4 or 5 people. A brand new apartment complex offers study rooms, a gym, common areas, laundry, and the residence is also monitored by CCTV 24 hours a day.
The school is located in Dublin city centre (5 Lad Lane, Dublin 2). Lad Lane is a quiet street just off Baggot Street in the city’s central business district and there is an abundance of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and shops on the school’s doorstep making the school an ideal choice for a language course in Dublin.
Apollo offers a free and very useful Student App for students to use before arrival and during their program, giving easy access to Personal & Booking Information, Accommodation Information, Attendance, Documents, and Weekly Apollo Social Programmes. They also make it easy for students who want to open a bank account in Ireland with the Money Jar app.