I've been studying ESL at Berkeley Adult School since 2024 and I really like it here. The teachers…read moreexplain 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.

I took a class with Crystal Graves who has to be one of the worst instructors I've ever had. The…read moreclass 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.

So I was taking the part-time Data Analytics boot camp hosted by Trilogy Education for the past 6…read moremonths AND...I just graduated from it!! Yay!! Go me!! Hehe ANYWAYS, when I started this boot camp I thought maybe I'll learn and retain ALL the information. Though, I knew it would be very difficult because I came into this with NO CODING EXPERIENCE! This class is also fully virtual and I was probably the youngest one in the cohort since the majority of them looked like they were in their mid 30s-50s. NOTE: The instructor reminded us multiple times to expect many headaches, tears, frustrations, and the feeling of giving up and YES, I and many others in the cohort felt it all (~1/4 of the cohort dropped). Ok, so since this course is held fully virtually, that was something I was worried about. I actually ended up barely noticing it was an online class since it was LIVE and very INTERACTIVE where the instructor teaches and then everyone gets broken up into groups for classwork, and then we all come back together to discuss. Since I chose the part-time option, that meant there would be classes two days per week where each class was 2 hour sessions. Class was enjoyable and I ACTUALLY had fun and looked forward to attending class! We also had 5 TAs who held their own office hours for two hours on their chosen day (Friday-Sunday) or if you attend class 30 minutes early, they hold office hours there too. I attended office hours at least once a week and the TAs were very helpful. The instructor seemed to know his stuff when teaching during class, BUT sometimes he didn't know the answer to the questions we asked him. Not going to blame him though! This course is taught VERY FAST since it IS a boot camp. It's 24 weeks long, so each week is a new topic or language. Something which helped me complete all my weekly assignments was by starting the homework LITERALLY right after the Wednesday classes (my class sessions were Mondays and Wednesdays)! It's VERY important to form a study group in the beginning of the course because having a group helped me understand the material better (my study group was a group of 7 girls who met up weekly on Thursdays through Zoom). A perk from this boot camp is you can sign up for a tutor. I definitely knew I wanted a tutor! I mean...I might as well get all the help I can get and use all the resources and people available since this course ain't cheap! I don't know what I would have done without my tutor's help; she explained things well and sent me some resources. I also enjoyed the AskBCS service they have which is available throughout the majority of the day, BUT sometimes the person I got wasn't as helpful as others (several people in my cohort agreed with me on this). My class had about 44 students (the ones that didn't drop) and it was mixed with people of different education and career levels. For example, there were some people with a PhD, a Masters degree, and people with only a Bachelors degree. There were also people who already work in the industry as Senior positions. Knowing all of this was a little intimidating for me, but hey, it's great for networking! Oh and speaking of networking, this course comes with a "Career Services" section to help you become "employer competitive," but most of that doesn't start until the last month of the course. The career services was pretty much non-existent throughout the course and I wish I had more time with them. Would I recommend? I feel like I would recommend this boot camp to people who want a career change, BUT I would NOT recommend it to people who ONLY want to learn more of a specific language. The instructor only spent one week on most topics. I personally think one week is only enough to get the basics of a programming language. Even the instructor said we would have to review everything all over again AFTER the course! IF you do decide to take this bootcamp, then I would HIGHLY recommend having 2 or more monitors since that would make it less frustrating during the live online classes. I only had 1 monitor and got overwhelmed when the instructor was teaching too fast or when he was jumping from screen to screen, while others had 2-5 monitors.

Do not get the bootcamps they offer. They just waste your time. They cancel on me twice. After they…read morehad me paying ahead of time they canceled on me when I only had $3,000 left to pay. Now they are making me wait 30-60 days until I get my full refund. That is not fair, they are making me pay for their mistakes. I am not happy. They have $5,765 of my money and they are holding it hostage. I am very upset about this. Please don't do it, don't let it happen to you! They cancel the course and they don't even tell you why. Don't trust Edx or 2U.

I don't consider myself a natural artist, but after taking Introduction to Silkscreen with Emily…read morehere I feel like a spark of potential was finally lit. I thoroughly enjoyed the flexible after-work hours where I could relax and concentrate on just a few set tasks that go into making a screen and prints. The small class size felt both intimate and collaborative. I also loved how the teacher provided great materials to experiment with and Kala had all the necessary equipment. I'd love to come back and take more silkscreen later in the year!

Kala has some great art programs. One of them is Drink and Draw, a post-work evening activity that…read moreinvolves drinkin' an' drawin'. It's a rare opportunity for working folks who love art (but never get to do it) to be artistic and creative. We also hoped it would be an opportunity to meet people, relax, unwind, drink some wine, and hang out... but we discovered one fine weekday eve that it was lots of Draw but very little Drink. There are some serious art students in Berkeley! The art instructor was knowledgeable, talented and inspiring, and brought some great materials for us to use - handmade paper, high-quality ink, brushes. We did have to supply some of our own stuff, like scratch paper, pencils, erasers. She taught us new techniques and was very hands-on. A few completed projects even looked frame-worthy. Kala offers great programs if you want to do art in the evening. However, if you actually want to hang out with friends, catch up, and Drink with your Draw, you may want to go to a bar. Just sayin'...!

I took the memoir writing class on zoom the summer of 2024. The teacher advised that people were to…read morelisten to everyone's final project, a personal memoir, without commenting on the content. It was extremely difficult for me to write about my traumatic and very personal experience of an abusive coworker from over two decades prior, and completely erased from my mind. I bravely wrote my memoir and even more bravely shared it. I alluded to this abuser having "a special place in hell" for what she had done. This well-earned sentence was torn apart by another participant in the class. Her complete disregard for the trauma I had been through and her single lens focus was totally ignored by the teacher. I was humiliated. The teacher not only ignored her comments about the content in my writing, but she even encouraged the participants comments. I never shared my writing again and I never will.

I just finished Junse Kim's Intro to Fiction class. This was the best writing class I have ever…read moretaken. Each lesson is a lesson on an aspect of the craft of writing and he gives you concrete instructions and actionable feedback. I used to just pants it and I only knew if what I did worked or didn't work. I never knew why and trying to fix it was a crap shoot. Now I know how to debug my own writing, I know how to make what worked better, and I know what I should be doing in the first place. It is incredibly exciting and freeing of writer's block. I am writing a memoir, not fiction, but the craft he teaches applies to all genres. Thank you so much Junse. If I ever finish my memoir, it will be all due to you!

I was part of Patrick's workshop in 2020, right before the lockdowns started. I had seen Patrick…read morespeaking at an event earlier, where he mentioned the classes he gives at Berkeley DFI. I signed up for a 7 week course, one class per weekend, along with 7-10 other people. The value you get for the cost of the workshop is well worth it. Each class lasts about 6 hours and covers a different theme. By the end of it you'll come out knowing the basics to make your own film as a director/producer, from raising money to shooting a scene. All lessons are theoretical except for the last one, where you get to shoot a project along with your classmates (this last part I didn't experience, as we had to use Zoom due to the pandemic). Don't expect to come out of it with too much technical knowledge. You'll still have to hire a director of photography and/or editor if you don't have those skills, but you'll know how to produce and direct your own film, and how to speak the language of the people in the set that do. Patrick is a great teacher, and I learnt enough to feel I can make my own film, which I must say feels very damn good and keeps me motivated to keep going.

I could not attend his class due to health reasons and after attending half of the first class, I…read moreasked for a partial refund. Although initially Patrick promised to honor the partial refund, he did not return any of it and stopped communicating.

I've been a part of Toastmasters on Campus for 9 months now, and it's been such a privilege to be a…read morepart of this community and look forward to the meetings each week. There's a reason why this club has received the President's Distinguished Club Award for 10 years in a row, and counting! Before I attended my first meeting, I assumed I would be so intimidated by all the great speakers and thus too nervous to speak in front of them. But when I came to my first few meetings, I was simultaneously so impressed by the speakers, so warmly welcomed by the members, and so supported in my goal to improve my public speaking, that all I really felt was community and encouragement. Because of how organized, structured, and supportive the club is, my public speaking has evolved from speaking quietly with shaking hands, stiff legs, and very many "ums" and "likes", to speaking with much more confidence, a louder voice, less filler words, and more poise and ease moving about the stage. I feel more comfortable and much less fearful. Toastmasters has a structured yet flexible curriculum to help you achieve your public speaking goals, leadership goals, and life goals. It's a method that is tried and true to help you improve your speaking, and it's a community that you'll want to keep coming back to. I've made any friends in this club from diverse backgrounds, and have learned so much not only about public speaking, but also about many people's experiences, perspectives, and stories. :) I couldn't recommend it enough.

I have been a member of Toastmasters on Campus for about 5 months now. I look forward to our…read moremeetings every single week. My public speaking skills have improved dramatically. I have a lot less social anxiety now, enjoy deeper connections with my friends and family, and have an easier time meeting new people. I speak in front of the camera a lot for work, and now I feel a lot more comfortable doing so. I am so excited for my next public speaking gig, as I know I have improved a lot. I'd like to start speaking in contests to expand my comfort zone even more. I have made great friendships in the group. Now, we have 12-15+ people showing up every week, and everyone's skills keep getting better.

Such an amazing campus ..the teachers are so supportive and patient..I totally recommend this…read moreschool to others ..the programs are flexible and work with your schedules..check them out you will not regret it

I would like to thank Alvarado School for giving me the opportunity to take the classes that i…read moreneeded to get my high school diploma. and also would like to thank the teachers for helping me to not give up and to accomplish in getting my high school diploma after 20 years. its never too late to accomplish and achieving in yourself and not giving up. never give up in your life . Thank you for all the staff and teachers in Alvarado School for giving me the opportunity in finishing my high school diploma and graduating. I highly recommend anyone who in getting back into school and in getting your high school dilploma.

Life changing. I worked with a Depth Hypnosis Practitioner for awhile and then started taking…read moreclasses because I was so impressed with the personal growth and changes I experienced. As a psychologist for 25 years, I am truly humbled and I have experienced amazing personal growth and healing through the classes and my Depth Hypnosis Practitioner.

I have been an active student at the Sacred Stream since 2015. Finding Sacred Stream and Isa…read moreGucciardi changed my life. Isa is the real deal. In a world where so many teachers wield their power in self serving or irresponsible ways, Isa teaches and models a path of responsibility and true service. She's wise, eloquent, and principled, competent at breaking down complex thought systems in ways that make them accessible, even to someone new to this work. It's almost mind blowing, the scope of what Isa has synthesized in her teachings. But what's even more striking to me is that she teaches in such a way that everything you learn here, you will learn through your own direct experience. It's not always easy or comfortable, but Isa's classes and method are, for someone serious about their inner development, a true path to change. Thank you Isa and the Sacred Stream!

Have taken one class, "Learn to Make Dim Sum"…read more Class offerings were interesting and varied. The website is decent, but the basic info a new student might want was a little buried. For instance, answers to questions like "where is my class, is my class really going to happen tomorrow, and who do I call to ask these questions" were not as easy to discern as I'd have liked. Class was held in the Piedmont High School facility, the main dining hall I believe. The course, instruction, and results of the class were all great. In the end we churned out some very passable Dim Sum classics that tasted authentic.

The beauty of Piedmont Adult School is that you don't get graded for your efforts. However if I…read moredid, something tells me I would do my homework more often and would have actually learned more. All in all, PAS is a great way to brush up on some practical skills or professional skills and have a little fun in the process. Here's a rundown of the classes I've taken from there. *Beginning guitar--Not a bad class. I learned to play a few chords...even transition between two of them in a reasonable amount of time (haha), but that's not really the teacher's fault. I just didn't practice as much as I should have. Grade: B *Beginning sewing--after a few successful efforts of cutting up vintage t-shirts and stitching them up tighter and more low-cut to look more Urban Outfitter-ish, I decided that I really want to learn how to sew. After taking this class, I can't really say I learned how to sew. Seriously the skirt I made was U-G-L-Y! Like the other yelpers mentioned, the teacher wasn't the nicest in the world. Talented yes, but a good teacher no. Her tone was just too condescending. Grade: D *Portuguese: Oi! Como vai? That's all I remember from the class. I was a slacker and only went to 3 of the 6 classes. I liked the class, but I didn't have time to do the homework so I stopped going. The teacher was nice and helpful. I can't really punish the class for my lack of effort. Grade: A *Basic Cooking Class: Fun and helpful. Terry Paulding does a great job educating us on preparing simple seasonal meals. Plus she has a great workspace in Emeryville. This is such a great value for the quality of the class. Grade A+ Updated on 11/19/2007-adding a star *Chocolate Class: Wow a dream come true for me. For some reason I've always thought cooking with Chocolate was difficult. Willow Waldeck has taught me otherwise. She's a wonderful teacher. I walked away from each class with tasty chocolate desserts of bakery/restaurant quality: chocolate truffles, chocolate decadence cookies, almond chocolate torte, chocolate molten cakes. My love for chocolate has only deepened with this class. Grade: A+++