Check out our new virtual through our ‘holy’ halls. Walk through our school, including classrooms as you were actually here in Cape Town! JUST MOVE YOUR MOUSE AND CLICK ON THE GREEN REFERENCE POINTS TO WALK FURTHER!

Have a look how Peter Knecht, a former 50+ Student, experienced his stay at Kurus English. Follow him through his special Cape Town adventure. Just click this link and join Peter on his 50+ journey: https://picasaweb.google.com/112529293328028788403/Kurus11_22022013?authkey=Gv1sRgCKjtwtfm3teBcg&feat=email#

During his stay at Kurus English Peter encountered a lot of unique places in and around Cape Town. Starting off with the visit of a Sangoma, a traditional healer and the Imam Dawood (a Muslim leader), who opened the doors of his mosque, followed by the excursion to Greenpoint park, where Jethro Louw introduced him to unknown energies and currency. Peter also set foot into the Lynedoch Eco-Village, discovered Camissa, the place of sweet waters and met Kelvin Cochrane, who showed him the Buttom Road Sanctuary Zeekoevlei. At the weekend Peter went on the Cape Peninsula Route and he seduced his taste buds on the mouth-watering Gourmet Route as well as at the Jazz-Safari evening!

Thank you very much to Peter Knecht for sharing his beautiful memories and pictures with us.

Kurus English goes big. The Pie Review counts us to the most influential figures of the industry! Check out the article and the whole interview with Johannes, Director of Kurus English.

Click here to read the article: www.i-studentgroup.com/thepie/02/english/

Interview with Johannes Kraus:

By The PIE Review, Amy Baker

Q Why did you decide to set up Kurus English – what inspired you?

I have always had an interest in Education, but was inspired to approach it from a different angle; wanting to work within the education field itself, but not only in the standard teaching way. After my own language studies experience in Cape Town in 2004, followed by a year of study at the University of Cape Town, I came up with the idea of founding an English language school integrated with an experiential learning concept. During my initial language studies in Cape Town, I had at times found it rather annoying to remain seated during somewhat lengthy communication classes, indoors, until 15h30 – whilst just outside, and tantalizingly so, Cape Town was waiting with so many opportunities and experiences to offer.

So, I partnered with experienced, creative teachers and a finely-networked cultural tour operator, Coffeebeans Routes. Together we developed what we call our Language Excursions. Any innovative approach, however, requires focused and efficient operations management, so, additionally, I was delighted to be joined by my long-time friend and companion who also hails from Germany, and our small team was finally complete.

Our Language Excursions are personally accompanied by our teachers and these learning journeys provide our students with opportunities to meet the diverse people of Cape Town; they are out-of-classroom communication classes. We have developed 12 different themes and at least 3 Language Excursions associated with each theme. Due to the authentic learning environment, language-learning outcomes are high: aiming to provide our students with maximum opportunities for success in communicating in English, especially by guiding and supporting the learners, promoting their natural confidence in the use of their new and developing language.

Q How has your business developed?

Starting from zero meant we have had growth every single year from the start. However, the first 2 years were much slower than anticipated, which translated into a big challenge in the management of cash flow; this especially apparent during the winter months. Our summers, on the other hand, have been good from the very beginning, mainly due to the aforementioned existing networks.

Q What are your plans for Kurus for the future?

I still refer to Kurus English as a young start-up company, so the main goal is to establish the school with its unique concept in the market and to build further relationships globally, especially with language travel agencies. I don’t think it would be a good idea to increase the size of the school just yet. We are a small, privately-owned and independent school, which ensures individual and personalised attention to all our clients/students; I would very much like to keep it this way. A second campus may indeed make sense in the future, we will see…

Q Age/nationality/size of business please?

I am 33 years old and originally from Germany. I have been resident in Cape Town, South Africa for 7 years.

Kurus English is 4 years old and into its 5^th year of operation. We have 4 classrooms and a maximum capacity of 32 students.

Q What do you enjoy most about your job?

The first thought that springs to my mind is the challenge. I love the challenge of being an entrepreneur. As I mentioned before, it hasn’t been easy, but it has always been exciting, fun and challenging – and I need that! Furthermore, I love being so closely involved in Education and working with people. It’s a real pleasure for me seeing all the happy faces from all around the world when our students arrive, and  later when they leave Cape Town. And our school embodies a truly inspiring and stimulating atmosphere; it feels like we’re working with the whole world every day and I really enjoy this a lot.

Mission completed:-) Our Harlem Shake is online! Enjoy! Thanks so much to all the Shakers!!! WELL DONE!!

Thanks a lot for 3 wonderful weeks! Thanks to the whole Kurus Team – you made the difference!

All the best
Achim

Coming soon! Watch this space…

This week we discover Cape Town’s wide food culture. Taste Cape Malay kitchen, do our own chocolate and try Xhosa food. Who can say no to this culinary experiment?

Thank you for everything!!!

Your team is fantastic.
Special thanks to Gavin who also spoke a lot about the history of South Africa.

Amandla!!

Marina

Thanks to the whole Kurus-English-Team for the great time we had. Especially Gavin you were (and are) great!

Lisa

So… Thank you so much for everything!!
During all this courses I’ve learned a lot and of course I’ve enjoyed too!

Hope to see you in Cape Town because I’m not leaving… HAHA!

Big hug for all of you, you helped me a lot!

ESKERRIKASKO!!

Leire

Thank you very much for everything.
All of us had an excellent time in this school and in Cape Town as well.
Unfortunately we only had two weeks to improve our English and to explore this great city.

All in all we had a fabulous time, especially because of you.

(Stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!!)

Dominik, Christine, Ann-Kristin, Alina, Fabian, Tim, Louisa, Tim S. and Anja

Thank you for being patient with my German toughness!

Thank you for a wonderful time in your school! I learnt a lot of English and really enjoyed the excursions. Now I know so much more about South Africa culture (and especially food !

You never know. Maybe you will see me again…

Best wishes and: Alles Gute von Angelika

May we introduce you to Cape Town? The beautiful city with so many different faces! We started our English Excursions at the nature reserve, Intaka Island. On Wednesday we learned more about the tragic history of District 6. And to sum up we attended a lively drum workshop in Gugulethu. What a stunning week!

Thank you Kurus English for the great time, the shared laughs in class and the awesome language excursions!
Laurin, Stefan, Alex, Brite, Rimah, Ilka, Nouri, Dennis, Svenja, René, Nils, Sabrina,

The time was great! Thank you so much!
xox Ricky

Thank you very much for this special and wonderful time!

All the best for Kurus

Ursula

It was a great time in Kurus School! Thank you for everything.

A special thank you to Kate, Maggie and Gavin!

Caro & Lisa

Thank you Amos, Maggie and Kate for your support and patience.

Lots of love
Amanda

It’s time for South African history! In this week our Language Excursions focus on the past so that we get a better understanding how the past is still influencing the present. We started our excursion at the Slave Lodge, where Lucy gave us a very interesting tour. Our next stop was the District 6 museum. Our guide Noor, who is a real storyteller, introduced us to the dark chapter of Apartheid. On our last trip we celebrated freedom of movement. Therefore we took the train to Langa, where we visited the Dompass office under the guidance of our energetic guide Mike.

What should I say now???

Thank you for everything!

- Lovely teachers…
- Nice friends…
- Delicious snacks…
- Amazing experiences…

And very good moments!

I’m very happy!

Thank you Diana for all your support!

Cheers Gaby

Hi Kurus and Coffeebean people

I enjoyed every moment at your school inside and outside.

* good professional teaching during the mornings

* break time with free coffee and tea. (thanks for refilling and tidying up Diana and Caroline)

* excursions in the afternoon to Langa, to Woodstock, to District 6, to Bo Kaap, to Constantia, to Greenpoint Garden, to Lynedoch EcoVillage, to Zeekoevlei…. incredible, isn’t it.

I love your concept. Thanks

Sibylle

Many, many thanks to you lovely people at Kurus! It’s been fascinating, challenging, amazing, stunning, funny, beautiful, demanding and all in all a very exciting experience to be part of a wonderful schoolteam, as well as having different opportunities to dive into the cultures of the wonderful South African people. Take care (of Kurus and Coffeebean Routes)

Lots of love Irene.

Dear Kurus-Team,

It was such a great time at your school!

There are so nice teachers, I had fun the whole time!

I just wanna say THANK YOU and I hope that we will meet again!

I met so many nice people who helped me in the first days, you are so lovely!

Big hugs and kisses!

Anna

Thankxxx Kurus!

It was a great time!

All the best and see you again in October!

And the theme of this week’s Language Excursions is: FOOD! Glorious food! Our first Language Excursion took us on a mouth-watering journey! We dived into the world of spices while learning more about the Cape Malay Kitchen. From spicy to sweet! On Wednesday we explored the world of honest chocolate! And I promise you, we didn’t wanna leave! Last but for sure not least we heeded of to Langa, where we tasted real IsiXhosa food, an experience for all senses! Yummy!

Thank you very much for this lovely time! I have improved my English so much! This is equally because I had the chance to dive so deeply in to the culture and because I had such qualified and motivated teachers! I had an incredibly wonderful housmum, actually just like a second family!

Now, it’s time to say goodbye, after such a long time…

Maybe I will have the opportunity to meet you all again somewhere in the world!
You never know…!

Auf Wiedersehen.
Nadine