I've been studying ESL at Berkeley Adult School since 2024 and I really like it here. The teachers explain clearly and make learning fun. The classmates are nice and come from all over the world. I can feel my English getting better and I'm so happy I joined this school. read more

Berkeley Adult School - Adult Education Near Me - Berkeley, California

I took a class with Crystal Graves who has to be one of the worst instructors I've ever had. The class was on Zoom. Most of the world has been using Zoom for years and has an understanding of how to use this platform. Ms. Graves has chosen not to master online instruction. Due to her poor instruction, the class was very disorganized. Also, it would have been nice if she had a quiet space to teach without personal interruptions. The final kicker was trying to get students to buy things off her Etsy site. I felt the class was a waste of time and dropped it which is sad because it could have been so much better. read more

This place is fucking terrible. I went here awhile back. I remember the professor getting angry at me for completing my work-and-turn it in early before xmas break. I remember Him try to s***** them out of my hand and we tuscel for the papers and I remember him. Yolking me up and kicking me out of class. I was told to leave campus or else the police will be called.. I remember going to the Dean's office. And he was there, and he even admitted to what he had did. And they set there and said they never heard anything and denied everything that happened. It was so surreal. I can't even believe it.. All these good reviews i'm not too sure about. read more

I can't say how much a school like BAS can change your life and perspective in such a short period of time. After getting past the slightly uncomfortable navigation process of figuring out the logistics, I realized my best bet was to speak with the staff and ask more questions. Not only were they knowledgeable, they were encouraging. Instructors here are genuine folks who collectively share good intentions and best wishes for their students. You will realize how much subtle - but highly engaged - amount of support you have after settling in. People 18-60+ are well supported and finding your community is as easy as reading a bulletin post in the halls. I hope that in this case, people can still stay connected in the virtual world using Zoom or Google Meet. Thanks in part to BAS, I have a newfound appreciation for applied mathematics, research writing, the process of review, and the art of photo manipulation. Although my time at BAS was stretched thin and cut shorter than I would have liked due to COVID19, my former counselor was always actively checking in to course-correct. I found the online distance learning resources to be highly usable and easy to understand. I truly and deeply miss my learning environment here and am grateful for the exposure to this eclectic culture of scholars. Special thanks to: Hoyt, Ratchford, LaCourt, Viles, and Smith. read more

Berkeley Adult School - The Sixth Extinction recommended reading by Larry Viles - Adult Education Near Me - Berkeley, California

A great place to pick up new software skills. They don't have a huge selection of classes but they do have Adobe Dreamweaver, InDesign and Photoshop CS available in a one-day introductory workshop ($55) or in 10-week courses ($120) in Levels I and II. Day and night classes available. I have really come to enjoy my twice-a-week Photoshop class and I'm learning real-world skills. read more

Berkeley Adult School - Affordable @Adobe #Photoshop and #InDesign classes! - Adult Education Near Me - Berkeley, California

FYI Berkeley Adult School is not closed! BAS has temporarily gone online during the pandemic. I recently completed a introductory Microsoft Suite class with David Rosen and it was awesome! Really a great bang for the buck. David is very personable. I liked the way he designed the class to be slow moving and rigorous about leading you through the logic of the software. All and all I greatly enjoyed the experience. I definitely completed the class with a greater understanding and ability to use Microsoft applications at work. read more

I used to learn English here. Teachers are very patient. And I made a lot of friends here.

I'm ESL student & I'm writing this review after 1 week attendance, == the replacement test was great except 2 things 1- simple interview with a man, he thinks he's super smart and was going to allocate me with beginners for no reasonable reason, but I negotiated him and after writing, comprehension and listening tests I attended the highest and the last level. 2- they don't do oral test, so you'll find at least 2 students in your class don't speak like the rest. replacement test tips: - go early as much as you can because so many people want to apply. - I mean if you supposed to go at 10am, go 8am. - don't go first day coz it'll be crowded like hell. == after the replacement test they scheduled me 3 hours orientation in 1 week. They introduce the school, system, staff, some safety instructions and tell you your class number, location and teacher name. == classes, teachers, principal, advisor, administration and everybody there are doing their best to help, support and teach you. == everything in this school is super clean. == amazing parking lot for students, but take care buddy coz NO CAMERAS as far as I know, so if someone hit your car you'll never get him. == well organized and computerized environment. == for sorrow there's no specific place for students who goes early, so students just stay on stairs before classes and in break( which is 10 minutes & class lasts for 3 hours). == wonderful curriculum. I had asked my teacher about it and bought it, and I play the CDs daily. == they know how to boost your speaking skills and amplify your vocabulary. == professional & experienced teachers. == they really care about students and you'll feel how much they're loyal for " teaching mission " == 100% free. I'd RECOMMEND this school for anyone want to learn English as a second language. read more

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I've had one class here - Adult & Child CPR and First Aid with Kenyetta Haynes. She's a dynamic teacher who keeps the pace of the class moving along and she's great at engaging attention. I learned a lot of new information about CPR and I am very happy I signed up for this course. The courses are all reasonably priced and the building is super clean. Everyone I met here was very kind and welcoming. read more

I was terribly disappointed with my experience here. I signed up for a 10-week screenwriting course. The pricetag: $140. Too good to be true? You bet. First off: Since only three people were enrolled, the school cut the number of sessions from 10 to six. There was no option for a refund. We were given an option to take the class next semester, but the whole class had to have a consensus ... so you couldn't just decide on your own that you would rather not pay the full price for fewer classes. Our teacher, while well-intentioned, was below par. I had to ASK him to talk about structure, which is only the backbone of screenwriting, after listening to hours of him pounding on about his career and his beefs with the industry. Eventually I just stopped going. Next time I'll spend a little more and hopefully get a lot better. read more

What a steal! Super fun classes. You get what you put in. For $90 (and no expensive texts to buy!) I feel we really got a great value. The pace can be a little fast but students are encouraged to ask questions. I look forward to taking more language classes here. Celso is #1! read more

I writing this post to inform the principal of this school how disrespectful one of her teachers really is with older adults. I had enrolled in the MOA program which teaches you how to work in a Medical Setting, which I already have a medical assistant diploma from 1986 at Bay City College, however, it is out of date since I went to graduate school. I was working and I missed the first day of class, but I did my homework, this teacher named Kenyetta Haynes gave me the 3xqcZj password on the zoom after telling her that the password did not work. it turns out the password was 3XqcZj , this caused me to lose a 2 day, and on 10/29/20 she got on zoom at 6:15 and tried to start a verbal conversation with me with an agitated posture. I had accused me of not being responsible for not emailing her? I was told this on the second day after I had passed and showed up for the orientation which I had practiced to pass the typing exam and this was stressful for me. she tried to say negative things about me not really knowing me, very judgemental and this instructor needs a chill pill, this happens when you have an instructor who is doing too much and has no one to answer too. The principle of the Berkeley Adult school does not even answer the phone or email? Ms. Kenyetta Haynes is the instructor for several programs and she needs to have someone monitor her behavior and ego. this program was paid for by the Department of Rehabilitation so people can go back to work. however, this is California and there are many programs like this on zoom ending in a shorter time with a professional Staff. read more

I liked my Introductory Portuguese class this semester with Prof. Simão so much that I signed up with Yelp to post this review! Good pacing, very animated, useful handouts, good management of the class. I'm signed up for Intermediate next semester. (I only enrolled for the first semester after reading reviews on Yelp, so I'm paying it forward.) read more

Berkeley Adult School is a great school for everyone, because you have the opportunity to meet people from deferent country; that can help me to improve my speaking as well as I learn about other culture. Not only at BAS you can take an English class at levels. You also can take a class that can help you to improve your English. The class is practice English by acting. read more

I thought $100 for an 8 week Spanish course was a pretty good deal. Turns out it was too good to be true. The instructor is a fluent Spanish speaker of Mexican heritage, born and raised in the country. What luck! I had taken Spanish classes in high school, just the basics without any significant cultural emphasis. Turns out the instructor was a total dud, wasting the first two of our precious classes on personal introductions only. Keep in mind that each class is 2.5 hours long. The instructor asked each student to tell a little bit about ourselves using as much Spanish as we know. Each "introduction" felt more like an interrogation and if course, it's a beginners class everyone was speaking English. I raised my hand during one if our instructors long-winded, off-topic tangents asking when we would be learning some vocabulary and I was accused of being impatient. Well maybe I am, because halfway through class number 3, I walked out the door and will never again take a Spanish class at BAS. If you are looking for a good language class, I recommend Piedmont Adult School. I have since taken a Spanish class there which was wonderful. Prices are slightly elevated but if I remember correctly the course runs longer than 8 weeks. read more

I paid $60 for a language class and it was pretty much what I expected. Very chill, friendly students and friendly, interesting professor. However, because the cost is only $60 and because most people are learning just for fun, you get people in the class who are not very committed. This impacts you because in order to keep everyone engaged the professor has to backtrack to keep everyone on the same page. It was a good refresher class, but I'm not sure you could learn from scratch unless you were very dedicated and did a lot of work outside of class - I think this would be true of any language class that meets just once a week, however. For $60, well worth it. read more

The Spanish instructor is terrible. He's a native Spanish speaker but has no idea on how to run an efficient class. He spent the first two classes on meaningless introductions. moves at a snail pace. You're better off learning from a CD. The school is great and has a lot of potential. Would come back if they get an instructor who's dedicated and motivated to teach. read more

B.A.S.: Such a deal. I'm taking a 10-week, 3 hour per class, Intermediate PhotoShop class. Price tag: 50 bucks. Where can you touch that? Take a two day intensive somewhere and it'll set you back $700. And the teacher is excellent--knowledgeable, pleasant, and well-prepared. I like the vibe in B.A.S. too. A lot of ESL classes and the like. I like looking into the classrooms and seeing people who are trying to better their lives. read more

I too find the Photoshop class amazing. There is always something new to learn and I just keep coming back. Yeah for Berkeley offering this very affordable education useful for amateurs and professionals alike. read more

I truly enjoyed taking advanced Portuguese with Professor Celso Simao. I signed up for the class to maintain my Portuguese after having lived in Brazil for four years. It was great to be able to have in depth conversations about social and political issues in Portuguese and to listen to Brazilian music, some of which I had never heard. Professor Celso is funny, attentive and thorough. I highly recommend this class! read more

As two people have reviewed below, the Advanced Spanish Class at BAS is not well run. There is no Text, no Class outline, the instructor just sort of "wings it." The hardest thing in learning a language is learning to SPEAK it, not listening to the instructor rambling on about his (I thought kind of dubious) opinions and beliefs. As mentioned by other reviewers, try the Spanish classes at Piedmont. read more

The Saturday 2-hour class "Car Buying 101" was an excellent investment to understand the wider picture of researching and negotiating a fair price for a new (or used) vehicle. Marc Korchin brings years of "green" and hybrid car sales experience into a fast-moving detailed presentation. I still refer to the many pages of notes I took during this class as I focus more clearly on the process of deciding upon, obtaining and financing my next car. read more

I've had a number of great classes at Berkeley Adult School, contrary to the previous student. Most of my classes have been in the computer dept - Photoshop with Linda Minor, Excel with Sam Guevara, Dreamweaver (can't remember the teacher's name), InDesign Saturday workshop with Janet Smith. I also took Spanish for Travelers class some time ago, which really helped with my trip to Mexico. Having been a public school teacher in the past, I know that classes not supported by tax dollars have a higher rate because the class fee has to support the entire class costs - teacher salary, support services in the office, handout copies, etc. - thus I'm guessing the $140 screenwriting class cost. Computer classes are less expensive. read more

I took a year of ESL there, it was pretty good. You can choose between morning, afternoon or evening class and it's super cheap. My teachers were good but i heard that some of them are not so good. I also took a spanish class, it was okay but low.. Still cheap ! Now i am taking a latin dance class and i love it !! read more

I took a beginner's Spanish class here because it was so cheap. The professor did not teach me anything. He was a very nice guy, and as a person I liked him, but he seriously spent the first 45 minutes of one of our classes talking about his last name. That being said, everyone who is in this class is taking it for fun, and aren't serious about learning it. It's a nice, relaxed community, and so if that is what you're looking for this is the place for you. If you actually want to learn Spanish, pay the extra bucks and go somewhere else. read more

I started classes here a few years ago as a beginner, from never having studied a foreign language, but having heard Portuguese in song for many years. Even though I knew how it should sound, I had no idea how to speak it. I have always thought of myself as someone who "could never speak a second language," yes?? I just didn't seem to have the right learning style for language and a serious head injury in my youth did not help my memorization skills. But, in preparation for a trip to Brasil, I decided to get serious and take a class to see if I could pick anything up. I won't lie- the first 4 months of the class I was pretty confused, but I kept doing the homework, memorizing verbs, nouns, colors, time, animals, clothing, etc. And I found that a once a week class was not really enough for me- I also worked on Duolingo a few hours a week, completed a really basic Portuguese booklet on my own, and in my car, I still listen to Portuguese language CDs from Pimsleur (I highly recommend!!!) But having the structure of a class each week to prepare for, helped me get more serious about studying and not procrastinate. Within a year, I was actually using the Portuguese that I had learned to navigate in Salvador, Bahia- where I only found 1 other local who spoke English. Even with just a year of the beginning Portuguese class, I was able to bargain with taxi drivers, ask questions and order food in restaurants, ask directions from locals, and read and (mostly) understand signs. This is pretty much due to my persistence in learning and the incredible encouragement and teaching skills of the Portuguese instructor at BAS, Professor Celso Simão. He is really great at tailoring the class to the level of each student, bringing in more complicated materials to challenge the advanced learner, and asking the most basic questions of the beginner to build confidence. I admit the class was a little scary for me at first, when being questioned and asked to respond in a new language. But Prof. Simão is skilled at making the class fun and interesting and challenging all at the same time. I am continuing with his classes even now- I am making progress and want to speak fluently. For me, I love Brasilian culture and learning Portuguese has opened new windows into songs that for so long I have heard and sung, but never really understood. I have also been able to communicate with visiting Brasilian musicians and dancers and artists, and it has opened the door to new friendships and made my life the richer. read more

BRAZILIAN-PORTUGUESE CLASS: I've been taking the Brazilian Portuguese class at Berkeley Adult School for three years now and I highly recommend it. Every class has an agenda that incorporates multiple varieties of language learning skills and exercises. There is also time to just chat and try out conversation skills. Plus Brazilian culture content, such as songs, stories, and current events topics. There is always something new to learn and enjoy. Other students come from all different walks of life and are friendly and fun! read more

To make a long story short ,I signed up for the medical front office assistant program and wasnt able to attend the class anymore. I recently just went to the first day of class and found out I couldn't attend. My teacher was very nice and she said anyone who needed to drop the class to do it soon so she can let someone else take your spot. So that is what I need I called the office If i could get a refund but! not to mention the office lady is very very rude! the first time I called she rudely transferred me to an administrator , he didnt pick up so I called again and they never picked up the phone so then i blocked my number and the lady in the office picked up the phone, when she found out it was me she hung up in my face, So I called again and said Hi may i speak with the administrator then she transferred me to a ringing number so after calling back so many times I FINALLY got in touch with the administrative guy and he was very rude as well because he was so worried about loosing money. So im glad im not going to the school, their rude, poor customer service when picking up the phone and they are also rude in person.They made me feel very uncomfortable and I am waiting on my refund as we speak.Also the area isnt that great to be in and if you dont want to deal with crazy people or druggies, dont attend here. read more