I took an intro French course recently with Celine Val. I really liked the class and our teacher. I…read morethought it was reasonably well structured and that she did a good job teaching us first how to pronounce, then how to read and write. We studied formal and informal. If you have any background in a language I would suggest you refresh yourself and test into something other than the intro course. Starting at the beginning was perfect for me since I have never studied French before, but it was very, very basic stuff. Had I taken that level for a language I had previously studied I think I would have been bored. Pros: - Conveniently located to the 84 and 101 (and Caltrain?) - Convenient times after work - Great way to sample a new language to see if you're really interested in it. - You get to keep the text book (they are used, mine had writing it...) Cons: - When you are only meeting once a week it's really easy to say: "I'll study this weekend." "I'll study tomorrow." "Oh crap, class is tonight, I better study." - Cost - it's roughly $40 a class (give or take) so if you're going to stick with it long term it's going to add up. A college course may be cheaper (though with the way college tuition is these days maybe not?). Private lessons seem to run $30-$40+ an hour, so I think their costs are reasonable. It just adds up over time, which hurts my head when I do the math... - $50 one time set-up fee per student

I took private intro spanish lessons with Erick. He was very flexible with my scheduled and allowed…read moreme to have a different meeting time each week to accommodate my schedule. Erick did a great job of assessing my current level of proficiency and then adapting an appropriate curriculum to advance my skills. We met at the Menlo Park school at times, which is a very easy to access right next to the Facebook campus off of Willow Road. Other times we met at a location we decided upon. The staff at ABC were very helpful in my billing or any questions I needed to get answered. Highly recommend ABC for anyone interested in any foreign language, no matter what level they are in. They will have an instructor for whatever language you are interested in.

My child attended the full day preschool program taught by Ms Susan and Ms Isabelle. She loved it…read moreand I thought it was very well run and educational. The environment is safe and kind. We were sad to move too far to keep attending but would recommend it without reservation.

I love their after school program. The environment is safe. The staffs are very child focus and…read morenice. The director of the learning center truly cares about the Children in all areas (emotional, academic, social). She worked on the students to solve conflicts, showed them how to love and care. I am very happy my child is in this school.

I've been wanting to learn ASL but wasn't sure where I could go to take classes. I found out about…read moreSan Jose Learning Center and signed up for ASL 1 with Alexa. I originally wanted to take the class in-person, but due to my own schedule, decided to enroll in the online one. I was a bit unsure how much I'd be able to learn through an online course (as I usually prefer in-person classes), but I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the class and learned a lot from Alexa! I appreciate SJLC's wide variety of language offerings and flexibility with online, hybrid, and in-person classes. I'm looking forward to taking more classes!

I finished my Japanese 2 here. Teacher Sai is very nice and professional. Really recommend this to…read moreanyone interested in learning Japanese!

Sharon is very excellent interview preparation coach. She listen carefully, very friendly, and very…read moreprecise to help me with interview questions I might get. She not only fix my pronunciation and grammar but also help me organize my answers, making them sound more polished and comprehensive. After two sessions with her, I got accepted for the position. making them sound more polished and comprehensive. After two sessions with her, I got accepted for the position. I greatly appreciate her help!

Sharon is an excellent ESL (English as a second language) teacher. I take online English lessons…read morefor 60 minutes once a week. I wanted to improve my English grammar, pronunciation, writing, and conversation skills. In a few lessons, not only did I notice big improvement, but my colleagues did too. Her approach is to work on quick fixes and to give immediate feedback so I can incorporate that learning immediately in my daily life. In addition to helping with daily conversation, she has expertise in resume/LinkedIn profile review and job interview preparation. With the help of her sessions, I landed a wonderful job opportunity.

Janet is an outstanding teacher with extensive experience in coaching non-native speakers who want…read moreto improve their language skills. She is quick to identify and understand your challenges during the trial class and designs personalized modules that cater to your specific needs. Janet is patient when correcting repetitive mistakes and provides constructive, consistent feedback. She is also flexible with scheduling, making it easier for you to find time for lessons. Beyond language skills, Janet is someone you'll enjoy getting to know. She is friendly, approachable, and genuinely interested in your life story. As a kind, honest, and easy-going person, she creates a comfortable learning environment. Throughout my time learning with Janet, I've gained a much better understanding of native speaker intonation and effective communication. My pronunciation has significantly improved after just a few months of coaching. I now comprehend the reasons behind my accents and am actively working to avoid reverting to my old habits, ensuring I deliver my messages more clearly. You will achieve remarkable results and gain a friend and mentor through her class!

I highly recommend Janet to any non-native speakers who would like to improve their American…read moreEnglish pronunciation and delivery, and speak with confidence. I had worked with Janet for two and half years. Her sessions are highly customized to the client's needs and interest. I've learned a lot from Janet. I'm happy to say I can now speak English much more fluently and native-like. I will surely keep improving my spoken English by applying the techniques I learned from Janet, such as linking, reduction, inflection. Janet is very knowledgeable and has a keen curiosity and continual desire to expand the breadth of her knowledge. We read articles on history, culture, science, etc. Our conversations were always interesting and inspiring. I look forward to working with her again in the future.

I can't speak for the entire school, but I had a very bad experience trying to enroll in a night…read morewood working class. I had previous experience in woodshop classes I took at Mount Tam high school in Marin, so I wasn't a novice. I paid the fee and enrolled in the class. However, when I met the teacher Ray, he decided not to let me take the class. I think he just didn't like me. Disappointed, I tried to get a refund but the school wouldn't give it to me, so I had to open a dispute with my bank. None of my calls or emails to the school or the teacher were ever returned regarding the class or the possibility of taking future classes. It felt like the class was a private club not open to outsiders. Its this kind of elite snobbery that gives rich cities like Palo Alto a bad name.

I am all about learning something new. I have taken classes from financial, to building your own…read morewater fountain to a basic sewing class. Classes are mostly held at Palo Alto High School on Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real across from the Town and Country Shopping Center. They follow the semester system. I get a hard copy catalog in the mail. You can register online, by phone, by fax and by mail. How easy is that? Classes are very reasonable and can range from $35 on up to $200 depending on how often it meets and the types of supplies you pay for. Geared toward the adult, so evening and weekend classes. They have arts and crafts, cooking, financial, computer, language, music, health and fitness, birdwatching, dancing, acting, CPR and first aid, ...you name it.

Melissa and her team have created a really special place here. It's beyond your typical childcare -…read moreit feels like a magical learning community and is rich with culture. Loved how multi-dimensional the experience is - lots of outdoor structured and unstructured play, child-centered, emergent curriculum, gardening, animal care, music, singing, making and sharing meals, field trip experiences, exposure to other cultures (in addition to Spanish immersion! What a gift!). To top it off, I found it operationally really smooth, and communications were always consistent and thorough. The teachers really felt like a team, and the parent community was very involved. We appreciate and miss JDM!

My daughter started at JDM when she was almost three years old. She already understood Spanish from…read moreher nanny so we doubled down on Spanish immersion. At first I was worried that she would not be prepared for Kindergarten in English if all of preschool was going to be in Spanish. Lola absolutely flourished at JDM thanks to the extremely nurturing environment and the scaffolding provided by the teachers. She especially loved all the arts, crafts, animals, la Huerta and Friday trips. And of course all her spanish speaking amigos. Like most children she had some ups and downs at school. After she dropped the nap she had some behavior issues in the afternoons. Melissa and team handled all of it extremely well. One day I was in communication with Melissa about her behavior and she said "let's try something" and suggested animal therapy and let her go and play with the bunnies and rabbits. Turns out that was exactly what she needed in that moment! She is currently in Kindergarten and could not have been more prepared from both a social and emotional and academic perspective. She entered Menlo Park public school way ahead of expectations which made the Kindergarten transition a fantastic one. We actually love JDM so much that she now goes there in the afternoons after Kindergarten. She gets to play outside after school and practice her Spanish. Win Win! Melissa is an extremely experienced child educator and she has built an All-Star team of teachers that create an extremely nurturing environment. We feel honored to be part of the JDM community!

Both our kids went to LACS, and I highly recommend it to anyone else looking for a Mandarin…read moreimmersion program. Zhuang Laoshi has been there for years, and she is an incredibly thoughtful educator who is wonderful with kids. To this day, my older daughter still tells me she misses Zhuag Laoshi. Our younger daughter had Zhang Laoshi, who was the most kind, warm, and nurturing teacher who really helped her feel comfortable during the preschool transition. LACS plans thoughtful and creative projects, and they really help children grow independently. They foster an environment where young children can build their social skills, which was a priority for us. Another bonus is the extra-curricular activities that happen at the school, so you don't have to drive them somewhere on other days (ballet, drumming, music, etc). They also love English lessons with Miss Eleanor. The rest of the leadership are responsive and caring, and I appreciate the daily updates on how they ate/slept. It's a smaller community, so the teachers and staff really get to know the families well. It's also convenient because they run the afterschool Chinese program at the LASD schools, as well as the vacation/summer camps, so when students graduate from the preschool, they still have opportunities to interact with their old teachers. We are so happy to have LACS in our community.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Zhang Laoshi and Zhuang Laoshi. From the very beginning,…read moreit has been clear how much care, patience, and dedication they bring to the classroom every day. They create such a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe, happy, and excited to learn. What really stands out is how thoughtfully Zhang Laoshi and Zhuang Laoshi support each child's development. They balance learning with play beautifully, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and confidence. My child often comes home talking about the fun activities, songs, and stories from class, and it's clear that Zhang Laoshi makes learning joyful and engaging for the children. Zhuang Laoshi and Zhang Laoshi also communicate very well with parents, sharing helpful updates and insights about how the children are growing socially, emotionally, and academically. It's reassuring to know that our child is in the hands of teachers who truly care about their well-being and development. We feel incredibly fortunate that our child is in a classroom led by Zhang Laoshi and Zhuang Laoshi. Great preschool teachers make a lifelong difference, and they are truly special educators who help children build confidence and a love of learning from the very start.

Our child has been attending this preschool, and we've had a really positive experience--especially…read morebecause of the teachers. They are truly the heart of the program. Every teacher we've interacted with has been warm, patient, and genuinely caring toward the kids. It's clear they know each child individually and put a lot of thought into supporting their development and emotional well-being. What stands out most is how attentive and nurturing the teachers are. They create a classroom environment where children feel safe, encouraged, and excited to learn. We often see them getting down to the kids' level to talk with them, guide them through challenges, and celebrate their small victories. That kind of care makes a big difference. Communication has also been great. The teachers are approachable and willing to share updates or discuss anything related to our child's day, which we really appreciate as parents. Overall, we feel grateful that our child is surrounded by such dedicated educators. Their kindness, patience, and commitment to the children really show, and it makes this preschool a wonderful place for little ones to grow and learn.

The staff is very enthusiastic and helpful. We are new to the school but so far so good…read more Schedules and communications are not well organized but with a lot of questions you can get your answers. They have a pick up service that is very convenient at an extra fee. The classes are held in the Community center class rooms which are a little beat up but work.

I had such a wonderful experience at Nova Studio! This place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves…read morecandles, creativity, and relaxing activities. If you are looking for a candle making studio, DIY candle workshop, or a fun creative experience, Nova is absolutely the place to go. The studio is beautiful, clean, and very cozy. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They guide you through the whole candle making process, from choosing your jar to selecting amazing fragrance oils and scents. There are so many options to create your own custom scented candle. This is such a great activity for friends, date nights, birthdays, team building, girls night, or a fun weekend activity. If you are searching for things to do, creative workshops, candle making classes, or DIY experiences, I highly recommend Nova. The quality of the candles and materials is excellent, and the experience itself is relaxing, fun, and unique. It's also a perfect place if you love home fragrance, handmade candles, artisanal candles, and custom candle making.

Have you ever tried making your own candles? I recently joined a candle-making workshop, and it was…read morethe most beautiful blend of creativity and calm. From the moment I walked in, the space smelled dreamy with all the essential oils and fragrances laid out--it already felt like a little retreat. We started by choosing our favorite scents, mixing and matching until we found the perfect combination that felt "us." Then came the slow, mindful process of melting wax, stirring with care, and finally pouring it into jars. Each step felt surprisingly therapeutic--almost like meditation in motion. What I loved most were the little tips & tricks shared along the way that make each candle unique. And the best part? Taking home something handmade that now fills my space with warmth and light. It's such a cozy reminder that sometimes the simplest activities can feel the most magical. If you're looking for a mindful, hands-on experience that lets you slow down, be creative, and leave with something beautiful--you'll love this class as much as I did.