"Twenty lessons per week" sounds like twenty hours of teaching. Often it is not. Many schools use the word lesson for a block of 45 or 50 minutes, while others use 60. Over a week or a month that difference is large enough to change which course is better value. This guide shows a simple calculation and the questions to ask. It uses no data from any school; the examples are arithmetic.
Lesson, hour, session: three different words
- A lesson is the school's unit of teaching. Its length is whatever the school decides.
- A session is usually a time block in the timetable, which may contain one or more lessons.
- An hour may mean sixty minutes of clock time, or it may be used loosely to mean a lesson.
Because schools use these words in different ways, never assume. Ask for the length in minutes.
The calculation
To find real weekly teaching time:
weekly hours = lessons per week × minutes per lesson ÷ 60
Here are hypothetical examples to show how the numbers shift. They are not drawn from any real school.
- 20 lessons of 45 minutes: 20 × 45 ÷ 60 = 15 hours.
- 20 lessons of 50 minutes: 20 × 50 ÷ 60 = 16 hours and 40 minutes (about 16.7 hours).
- 20 lessons of 60 minutes: 20 × 60 ÷ 60 = 20 hours.
A school that describes its course as "20 lessons" could be offering anywhere from 15 to 20 hours of clock time, depending on lesson length. Over four weeks the gap between the first and third example is 20 hours, which is half a working week of extra teaching.
When the school gives hours
If a school states weekly hours directly, such as "15 hours per week", use that figure. It is the school's own statement of teaching time. But do check what it counts. Some schools count a break within a session as part of the stated hours; others do not. Ask:
- Are breaks included in the stated time?
- Does the figure include optional workshops, self-study centre time or supervised homework?
- Does it include lessons that are only offered at some times of the year?
Only count teaching time that is guaranteed on your course.
Group lessons and one-to-one lessons
Some courses combine group lessons with individual lessons. Add them as separate lines because they differ in value, and they are often priced differently. For example, a school might offer a group course plus a few one-to-one lessons. Calculate the two sets of minutes separately and keep them separate in your comparison, even if the school adds them into one total.
Online lessons
Online schools sometimes use shorter lessons, such as 25, 30 or 45 minutes. Apply the same formula. Also ask whether the lesson is live with a teacher or a self-paced activity. A self-paced task is not teaching time in the same sense. See online versus in-person courses.
What about homework and self-study?
Homework and self-study are valuable but are not teaching hours. A school may offer supervised study sessions or access to a learning centre. They can be useful, yet should not be added to the weekly teaching figure. Keep a separate line in your notes for "supported study time".
Price per hour
Once you have comparable hours, you can work out the price per hour of teaching for each course. This calculation is only meaningful if the price and hours cover the same things and the prices are in the same currency and billing basis. A weekly price in one currency cannot be compared with a monthly price in another without making assumptions about exchange rates, which change daily. If you do convert, say so and note the date. The guide on tuition and total costs explains what is and is not comparable.
A lower price per hour is not always a better deal. Class size, teacher experience, materials and level of support vary, and the cheapest hour may not suit your goals. But if two schools are otherwise similar, a clear hourly figure helps you see what you are paying for.
Compulsory versus optional
Be careful with the line between a course's core hours and additions. Some schools advertise a headline figure that includes optional afternoon classes. If you do not choose the options, the real figure is lower. Conversely, some schools include extra sessions in the base fee. Ask what is compulsory.
A worked comparison template
For each course you consider, fill in:
| Item | Course A | Course B |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons per week | ||
| Minutes per lesson | ||
| Weekly hours (calculated) | ||
| Group or individual | ||
| Typical class size | ||
| Stated price and currency | ||
| What the price covers |
Fill the blanks from the school's written information. If a school only gives hours, leave the lesson rows blank and write down its stated hours instead.
Questions to ask the school
- How long is a lesson in minutes?
- How many lessons are there per week on this exact course?
- What is the total weekly teaching time in clock hours?
- Are breaks inside the stated time?
- Which lessons are in groups, and which are one-to-one?
- Are any lessons optional, and are they charged separately?
- What happens when a public holiday falls on a lesson day?
- Does the weekly figure change in other months of the year?
Why this matters for visas and attendance
Some immigration systems and schools set minimum weekly hours or attendance rules for certain kinds of study permission. We do not summarise those here, because they differ by country and change. If a visa or student status depends on your timetable, ask the school for its figure in writing and check the immigration authority's own page. See planning a language course abroad.
Limitations
The formula is simple, but the inputs come from the school. Use the school's most recent written timetable, keep a copy, and ask for corrections if the figures differ between its website, brochure and contract.