The inlingua method
A direct method for learning languages by speaking from day one. No translations, no abstract grammar, no fear. Developed over 50 years ago and continuously refined at our pedagogical headquarters in Berne.
The origin
inlingua was founded in 1968 in Berne, Switzerland, with a radical idea: learn a language the way you learnt your first one — by speaking, listening, and imitating from the very first minute, not by studying grammar rules in the abstract.
That direct approach transformed language teaching. Today we are an international network operating in 44 countries with 350+ centres, all sharing the same method and teaching materials.
The classroom in Lleida
inlingua Lleida has been teaching languages in the city for over fifty years. We are part of the global network but with local autonomy: a programme tailored to Catalan and Spanish speakers, without compromising the quality of the original method.
1,000+ students entered for Cambridge exams with a 90%+ pass rate — the clearest proof that the method works.
The four pillars
What sets an inlingua class apart from any other language course.
01 · Direct method
From the very first minute, only the target language is spoken in class. Grammar is learnt in context, not as a list of rules. We mirror the natural way you acquired your mother tongue.
02 · Native teachers
All our teachers are native speakers of the language they teach, specifically trained in the inlingua method. They come from the UK, Ireland, the USA, France, Germany, and Austria.
03 · Proprietary materials
Our books and exercises are designed by inlingua's pedagogical team in Berne — not bought in from third parties. Every level comes with its own coursebook plus the MY.INLINGUA online platform for practising outside class.
04 · Real conversation
Small groups of 8–12 students so everyone speaks in every session. You don't learn a language by listening — you learn it by speaking, with constant feedback from your teacher.
Why it works
The brain acquires languages through contextualised repetition, not abstract memorisation. When you only hear and speak the target language, the brain stops mentally "translating" and starts thinking directly in that language. That shift is what separates a fluent speaker from someone who knows plenty of grammar but never dares open their mouth.
In class we create a safe but demanding environment: you speak even when you're unsure, your teacher corrects you naturally, and your classmates practise alongside you. Within a few weeks the initial nerves fade and you realise you genuinely can hold basic conversations.
Pedagogical department
In Berne, a dedicated team of researchers and language-teaching specialists works continuously on evolving both the method and the materials. Coursebooks are reviewed every five years; MY.INLINGUA online exercises are updated with fresh content every year.
Every centre in the network — including ours in Lleida — follows exactly the same pedagogical programme. That means if you start A2 in Lleida and relocate to Brussels mid-course, you can pick up the same level with the same book at the centre there.
Try it for yourself
The best way to understand the method is to experience it. Take the free level test and we'll place you in the right group — you're welcome to sit in on a trial class before committing to anything.