Google rating
mackdonald language academy
Diego Dos Santos
3 months ago
Great experience, excellent teachers, entertaining activities...
Federico Stoimenov
3 months ago
Lovely experience, good organisation, good job experience, nice people.
Hazul 1
a year ago
I stayed in Kilkenny for three months with Mackdonald Organisation and I had an absolutey wonderful experience. The Trips we went onto with the Group...
Jose
3 months ago
Great staff of teachers engaged with their work. Their strength is dealing with teenagers. People attending come from Spain, France, Germany, Russia,...
Paul Carroll
3 years ago
It was a fantastic experience for my son Luke.
He was very nervous on the first day but very happy by the end of the week. All the teachers were very...
6-week course: 'The Ultimate Irish Experience'
| Varied leisure programme on 6 days per week: activities, excursions, sports & trips: |
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 Walking tour of Kilkenny |
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Excursions: one full-day trip per week to interesting sites, cities and Ireland's top attractions |
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Sports: Variety of different sports incl. tournaments: football, frisbee, basketball, volleyball, tag rugby etc. |
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Culture: Cultural visits: castles, cathedrals, museums etc. |
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Typically Irish: Dance & Folk show with live traditional music |
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Entertainment: Pool billiard, snooker, bowling, cinema, orienteering etc. |
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Golf - 'Pitch and Putt' on the driving range and putting green |
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Greyhound Races |
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Pottery Design and Workshop |
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Disco |
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Treasure Hunt |
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| Day-trips (optional choice of destination): | |
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 Cork city centre with Titanic XP museum in Cobh |
€ 55,- Euro |
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Dublin city centre (incl. guided walking tour) |
€ 55,- Euro |
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Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains and Courtown |
€ 55,- Euro |
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Hookhead Lighthouse with Duncannon Beach |
€ 55,- Euro |
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Irish coast with ‘Dunbrody’, Waterford and Tramore |
€ 55,- Euro |
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Rock of Cashel and Limerick city centre |
€ 55,- Euro |
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Dundrum Town Shopping Centre |
€ 25,- Euro |
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| Optional English PLUS Sport: | |
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Golf (5 training sessions with PGA coach) |
€ 250,- Euro |
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Horse-riding (5 training sessions in Equestrian centre) |
€ 250,- Euro |
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Tennis (5 training sessions with tennis coach) |
€ 250,- Euro |
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Badminton (5 training sessions with badminton coach) |
€ 250,- Euro |
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Multi-Sport (variety of different sports) |
free of charge |
Student Residences in Our Summer Centre in Dublin
In our school location in Dublin, we offer the highest standards in residential accommodation. Our on-campus residence provides the latest in "student village" style accommodation with onsite classrooms, dining hall, sports and recreational facilities.
The residential centre offers full-board accommodation. The school provides three meals each day in the on-campus college restaurant. All meals are provided on the campus and consist of: breakfast, hot lunch (alternatively: packed lunch on weekends and on full-day trips) and hot evening dinner. There are menu options each day: lunch and dinner comprise of two courses. A vegetarian option is available for every meal.
The residences provide apartment style accommodation: each apartment has a kitchen, living area, four single bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The rooms are equipped with a study area and all essential living accommodation facilities for example a cupboard and a bed. Wireless internet (password protected) is available on site.
Boys and girls are housed in different apartments.
The reception desk is staffed 24 hours a day and there will always be a teacher on duty in the residence.
All rooms and common areas are thoroughly cleaned once per week with a change of bed sheets and pillow cases. Bathroom facilities are cleaned every 2/3 days.
A hand towel is provided to each student on arrival to be changed weekly. A laundry service is available.
Secondary Schools in Ireland
General Information on the Irish High School System
The Irish High School System (called Secondary School) is divided into two cycles:
- Junior Cycle which lasts for 3 years (for students from age 12)
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Senior Cycle which lasts for a further 3 years (for students from age 15)
The Junior Cycle is non-specialised and students usually take between 9 and 13 subjects per school year. At the end of this three-year cycle the Junior Cycle finishes with a State Examination called the Junior Certificate.
The first year of the Senior Cycle is called Transition Year (TY). It is a combination of academic, vocational and personal/social development.
TY is designed to give students, usually aged 15-16 years, the tools necessary to make informed choices about their future study and possible university or other Third Level choices.
The final two years of the Senior Cycle constitute a two-year study program which leads to another State Examination called the Leaving Certificate. This examination is both, an exit exam from school and a university entrance exam.
The curriculum for both cycles - Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle - is set down by the Irish Department of Education as follows:
Junior Cycle (aged 12-15 years)
- English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
- Irish, Latin, Greek
- Classical Studies, Music
- Mathematics
- History, Geography
- Business Studies Science, Technology, Home Economics
- Technical Graphics, Metalwork, Materials Technology(Wood)
- Typewriting
- Art, Craft & Design
- Environment & Social Studies, Social Personal & Health Education
- Civic, Social & Political Education
- Religious Education
leading to: Junior Certificate
Senior Cycle (aged 15-18 years)
- English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Japanese
- Irish, Latin, Ancient Greek
- Classical Studies
- History, Geography
- Mathematics, Applied Mathematics
- Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Physics & Chemistry
- Agricultural Economics, Engineering
- Design & Communication, Graphics, Construction Studies
- Accounting, Economics, Business Home Economics
- Art, Music
- Religious Education
leading to: Leaving Certificate
Please note that no school offers the complete range of subject and the usual number of subjects offered per high school is approx. 16 subjects.
Sample Transition modules include: Debating, Public Speaking, Enterprise, Work Experience and a wide variety of additional modules which vary depending on the specific school.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Bank Holidays and vacation
You can book courses in Kilkenny year-round (and Waterford and Dublin during the assigned period during the summer), there are no holidays.
You can book courses in Kilkenny year-round (and Waterford and Dublin during the assigned period during the summer), there are no holidays.
No classes will be held on national bank holidays. This does not apply to our courses during the summer (adult courses and junior summer camps). Please refer to the Irish holidays here.
Books and class material
All English language books as well as all class material needed are provided free of charge.
All English language books as well as all class material needed are provided free of charge.
Certificate and report card
A certificate is given to all students at the end of the English course with us. The certificate will indicate the results and the knowledge level achieved in the English language course as well as the number of lessons attended.
A certificate is given to all students at the end of the English course with us. The certificate will indicate the results and the knowledge level achieved in the English language course as well as the number of lessons attended.
Contact to course participants
The best time to contact your children, relatives or friends during their English course in Ireland is either at lunch time (around 13:00 pm) or at dinner time (around 18:30 pm). Approximately four weeks prior to the beginning of the language course, all students will receive detailed information about the course itself. We then will inform you about the exact postal address and the phone numbers you may use to call your children, relatives or friends while they are with us. Please note that there is a one hour time difference between the British Isles and continental Europe.
The best time to contact your children, relatives or friends during their English course in Ireland is either at lunch time (around 13:00 pm) or at dinner time (around 18:30 pm). Approximately four weeks prior to the beginning of the language course, all students will receive detailed information about the course itself. We then will inform you about the exact postal address and the phone numbers you may use to call your children, relatives or friends while they are with us. Please note that there is a one hour time difference between the British Isles and continental Europe.
Homework
All students are expected to participate fully in their English course. Thus, a certain amount of homework is obligatory in all English classes and levels. Homework is given regularly and involves preparation before, and revision work after the day's lessons. However, the amount of homework will always allow sufficient time for leisure activities. Written homework will be corrected and returned to the student, serving as an indication of his or her individual progress.
All students are expected to participate fully in their English course. Thus, a certain amount of homework is obligatory in all English classes and levels. Homework is given regularly and involves preparation before, and revision work after the day's lessons. However, the amount of homework will always allow sufficient time for leisure activities. Written homework will be corrected and returned to the student, serving as an indication of his or her individual progress.
Language levels
We distinguish between the levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Our school´s own school books are set up according to the Common European Framework as well.
We distinguish between the levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Our school´s own school books are set up according to the Common European Framework as well.
Laundry Service in the host family / in the residences
Laundry facilities are provided free of charge in Dublin and Waterford. In Kilkenny, the use of a washing machine is of the discretion of the host family.
Laundry facilities are provided free of charge in Dublin and Waterford. In Kilkenny, the use of a washing machine is of the discretion of the host family.
Lessons
The duration of a regular lesson is 45 minutes. There are generally 20 lessons (totalling 15 hours) of English language tuition per week (General English and Junior lessons).
The duration of a regular lesson is 45 minutes. There are generally 20 lessons (totalling 15 hours) of English language tuition per week (General English and Junior lessons).
Payment
After we have received your registration, we will send you a confirmation email with your detailed invoice incl. payment terms and instructions.
You can select your preferred method of payment during the registration process.
The following ways of payment are accepted: via bank transfer, PayPal or PayToStudy (for bank transfers from outside the EUR area). More information can be found here.
Placement / Entry test
Every student who wants to attend one of our English courses sits a thorough placement test on the first day of class to determine his or her English language level. The entry test consists of a written and oral part. After the test, the student will then be assigned to a class that reflects his or her level. This ensures that our English classes are homogeneous from a linguistical point of view. When assigning the different classes, we take the age of the student into consideration too (if possible).
Every student who wants to attend one of our English courses sits a thorough placement test on the first day of class to determine his or her English language level. The entry test consists of a written and oral part. After the test, the student will then be assigned to a class that reflects his or her level. This ensures that our English classes are homogeneous from a linguistical point of view. When assigning the different classes, we take the age of the student into consideration too (if possible).
Schedule / Itinerary / Timetable
Please see the pages for each course location for a sample weekly schedule. A detailed itinerary for your course with mackdonald language academy will be sent to you about 3 weeks prior to your arrival to Ireland.
Please see the pages for each course location for a sample weekly schedule. A detailed itinerary for your course with mackdonald language academy will be sent to you about 3 weeks prior to your arrival to Ireland.
Students´well-being
Living in a foreign country can sometimes cause problems of medical, emotional or psychological nature. This is a normal part of learning to live away from home for some time. However, our experienced staff will offer everyone support in these cases, and all such matters will be treated as strictly confidential. Reliable supervision for our minor students is guaranteed in all our Junior centres 24 hours per day.
Living in a foreign country can sometimes cause problems of medical, emotional or psychological nature. This is a normal part of learning to live away from home for some time. However, our experienced staff will offer everyone support in these cases, and all such matters will be treated as strictly confidential. Reliable supervision for our minor students is guaranteed in all our Junior centres 24 hours per day.
Transfers to / from the airport in Dublin (DUB)
One aspect of our comprehensive services are the transfers at arrival / departure. Arrival / departure from Dublin International Airport (DUB) to all our courses locations is on the Sunday before / after the course. Upon your registration, you can let us know your flight details and we will then arrange your transfer. A member of staff will wait for you in the arrival´s hall of Dublin airport and pick you up. At departure, we will accompany you to check in and say 'Good Bye' to you at the security check.
One aspect of our comprehensive services are the transfers at arrival / departure. Arrival / departure from Dublin International Airport (DUB) to all our courses locations is on the Sunday before / after the course. Upon your registration, you can let us know your flight details and we will then arrange your transfer. A member of staff will wait for you in the arrival´s hall of Dublin airport and pick you up. At departure, we will accompany you to check in and say 'Good Bye' to you at the security check.
In order to organize your airport transfer, please submit your arrival time and flight details no later than 10 days before your arrival to Ireland.
Airport transfers on a Sunday between 10 a.m. and 17 p.m. are included in the course price for all Juniors camps. Outside those hours we charge an additional € 50,- Euro. Airport transfers for our courses for adults are always charged separately. Please note that your airport transfer service might be shared with other students.
We cooperate with all airlines offering the 'Unaccompanied Minors - Service'. For further details, please enquire with your airline.
Travel Health insurance
We advise you to take out a travel health insurance during your stay with us in Ireland. The travel health insurance covers all kinds of medical treatment by a doctor or in a hospital which becomes necessary during your stay in the program.
We advise you to take out a travel health insurance during your stay with us in Ireland. The travel health insurance covers all kinds of medical treatment by a doctor or in a hospital which becomes necessary during your stay in the program.
VISA
Please contact an Irish Embassy or Consulate to inquire whether you need a visa or not.
Please contact an Irish Embassy or Consulate to inquire whether you need a visa or not.
After receipt of your registration, we shall send you a written confirmation and a letter of invitation for the course with us. Please note that the course price ought to be paid in full before we can issue this letter of invitation.
Once you have all required documents, you will have to file an application for a visa at the Irish Embassy or Consulate in your country.
Should any difficulties arise during the visa application process, please contact us immediately. We will do our best to assist you in any way we can.
More information about visas for Ireland, can be found here.
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Registration
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Student Feedback
Students and parents scoring us Excellent / Very Good in these categories:
| Overall experience |
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| Value for money |
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| Host families in Kilkenny |
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| International atmosphere |
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| Leisure programme |
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| More testimonials and references here. | |
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