Choosing a Language Course in Baku: 7 Questions for September 2026

September is the busiest month for language schools in Baku: groups re-form and timetables are built from scratch. That makes it the best moment to start — but a rushed choice can cost you a year. Here are seven questions worth asking before you pay, and a way to estimate your own level.

Why September

In September groups start from zero, so you are not dropped into a class that is already three months ahead. Work and school routines are only just restarting, which makes it easier to protect two lessons a week than it is in January or May. People who start in summer often break for holidays; a September group usually runs without a gap.

Seven questions to ask before enrolling

1. How many students will be in the group?

Speaking is built only by speaking. In a group of 15, a 90-minute lesson gives each student roughly six minutes of talking time. In a small group that number multiplies. Ask for the exact figure — "small group" means something different at every school.

2. How is your level assessed?

Assessing level by written test alone is half a method: a student who knows grammar but cannot speak lands in a group above their real level and then falls behind. Ask whether there is a spoken part.

3. What language is the lesson taught in?

If half the explanations happen in your first language, you are learning facts about the language rather than the language. In the Inlingua method the lesson runs in the target language from the first minute, with no translation.

4. Who is the teacher and how were they trained?

It is entirely normal to ask what methodology a teacher was trained in. Ask separately whether the teacher changes mid-year — a change in the middle of a course slows the whole group down.

5. How often, and for how long?

One lesson a week does not outrun the speed of forgetting: most of what you covered is gone by the next class. The realistic minimum is twice a week plus 15–20 minutes at home daily. We cover this in the English at home and Russian at home guides.

6. Is the school accredited?

Accreditation means someone has checked the quality. Inlingua Baku is certified to ISO 21001:2018, the international management-system standard for educational organisations.

7. How are missed lessons made up?

Illness and work trips happen over a year. Ask about the make-up policy in advance — it is the single most common source of disputes later.

How to estimate your own level

Your exact level is settled in class, but this quick check gives a first orientation:

• A1 — you can introduce yourself and say numbers and days.
• A2 — you can hold a simple conversation in a shop or a taxi.
• B1 — you can explain your view on a familiar topic, mistakes included.
• B2 — you can take part in a work meeting and follow most of a film.
• C1 — you speak freely on complex topics; the language is no longer the obstacle.

Full breakdown: CEFR levels A1–C2.

How long one level takes

With two lessons a week and steady work at home, one CEFR level usually takes four to six months. Going from zero to B1 realistically takes 18 months to two years. Be wary of any school promising "fluent in three months" — it does not match how fast a language is actually acquired.

What is different for children and teenagers

For young children the load sits on play and repetition rather than memory: in a 3–6 age group the lesson should be short and physical. For school-age students, what matters is that the course does not duplicate the school syllabus — otherwise the child covers the same material twice and loses interest.

How this works at Inlingua Baku

Inlingua Baku has operated since 2018 and represents the Inlingua International network, founded in Switzerland in 1968. Lessons run in the target language from the first minute, without translation. There are general, professional and exam-preparation courses in English and Russian, with levels built on the CEFR A1–C2 scale.

To choose a course: the English guide, the Russian guide and IELTS preparation.

FAQ

When is the best time to enrol in a language course in Baku?

September is the most convenient: groups form from scratch, so you do not join a class that has already moved ahead. January is the second-best moment.

How many students in a group is reasonable?

The smaller the group, the more speaking time each student gets. Ask for the exact number before paying.

What level can I reach from zero in one year?

With two lessons a week and regular work at home, a year usually gets you to A2, or the start of B1 at best.

What if I do not know my level?

That is normal — level is settled in class. Use the quick check above for a first orientation.

From what age can I enrol my child?

The key condition is that the lesson is built for the age: short and play-based for young children, and material that does not duplicate the school syllabus for school-age students.