About Continental Learning Academy
We help people communicate with confidence and do business with competence, in South Africa and across the continent.
Who we are
Continental Learning Academy (CLA) is a learning, development and training academy in Hatfield, Pretoria. We combine language training with practical business studies, so a learner can leave CLA able to write the proposal, present it, and manage the work that follows.
Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital, home to government departments, embassies, universities and corporate head offices. Our learners come from many languages and nationalities, and our courses are built for multilingual classrooms, cross-border careers and organisations that work with partners from many countries.
CLA sits between the university and the short-course provider. Learners get recognised outcomes, delivered with the flexibility, capped class sizes and workplace focus of a private academy.
What our name means
Continental signals reach and ambition: African in roots, global in outlook. Learning puts the learner first. Academy promises structure, standards and recognised outcomes.
Our vision
To be South Africa's most trusted academy for language and business learning, where every learner gains the voice and the skills to compete anywhere.
Our mission
We deliver practical, affordable language and business studies programmes that:
- Build confident communicators in the languages of work, trade and diplomacy.
- Develop business skills that employers recognise and learners can apply from day one.
- Open pathways from short courses to full qualifications.
- Support employers to meet their skills development and transformation goals.
Our values: the CLA LEARN code
Five commitments that shape every timetable, classroom and conversation.
- LLearner first
- Every timetable, class size and support service is designed around the learner's success.
- EExcellence
- We meet accreditation standards, then go beyond them in teaching quality.
- AAccountability
- We publish what we promise: outcomes, fees and timelines. Then we deliver it.
- RRespect
- We honour every language, culture and background in our classrooms.
- NNation-building
- We measure success by the careers, businesses and communities our learners grow.
Two schools, one pathway
The School of Languages teaches English, French, South African languages, Kiswahili and Mandarin, from beginner to professional level.
The School of Business offers NATED N4 to N6 programmes, ICB qualifications and an online library of 142 short courses.
The Business + Language Pathway pairs any business programme with Business English or French, for learners heading into regional and international roles.
Who we serve
- Corporate employers upskilling staff and reporting training for their skills plan.
- Government, embassies and NGOs working across languages and cultures.
- Working adults after career progress and a recognised qualification.
- School leavers and young job-seekers looking for a first qualification and work-readiness.
- International learners and new residents building English and a foothold in South African business.
Not sure which course fits?
Tell us what you want to achieve and an adviser will recommend a programme, a level and a study mode.