I have taken two of Elena's classes (Beginner One and Beginner Two). As someone who never studied Spanish in school and came in with nearly no Spanish language experience - aside from a few hours spent on Duolingo - I learned so much and left both B1 and B2 with confidence in my Spanish speaking skills. Elena is an amazing instructor. She keeps the content engaging, easy to follow/understand, and fun. The setup of the class is conversation based, so you're constantly speaking with your classmates and putting the learnings into practice. I would recommend Elena's classes to anyone in Chicago looking to learn a new language. I never felt like I'd be able to learn a new language as an adult - but Elena makes it exciting and enjoyable. I can't wait to continue taking her classes this summer! read more

Loved this experience! It takes you out of your normal routine and adds a little education to your schedule. The classes are in the back of Club Lucky in Wicker. Elena is a fun teacher and everyone who took the class was a good time. People get martinis and beers prior to class. She gives homework after each class, so I would say make sure your schedule allows a little extra time to make it well worth it. I recommend it! read more

Elena Chicago - Language Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Elena is very kind and knowledgeable! Made the whole process so easy! Warm and welcoming, I'm very grateful!

I had a great experience taking Spanish Beginner 1 with Elena. Elena offers a unique approach to learning a language that is unlike your typical textbook school class. I have never taken Spanish and felt comfortable reading and speaking by the end of the class. I also had a lot of fun and met some new friends! I plan to take additional classes with Elena moving forward! read more

I've taken all three courses of Elena's and it has really helped me learn and improve my Spanish! The classes are a lot of fun too!

My husband and I took classes with Elena at the beginning of the pandemic and even though we were all getting used to doing everything via Zoom at the time, the class was so much fun and very well put-together. Elena is so patient and helpful with every student, she makes learning Spanish enjoyable. Her approach to teaching is much more effective than other classes I've taken and I can truly say I am confident in my speaking skills now thanks to Elena! read more

The company that I work for hired Elena to bridge the language barrier between our labor and office depts. We absolutely loved her classes! She is so patient and thorough, everyone felt at ease no matter what their level of Spanish was. Her personality is so well suited to teaching and she found quirky and innovative ways to make learning a new language fun for all. The company hosted a total of 8 weeks of classes which the staff enjoyed doing and I can't recommend Elena enough, she made the experience so fun and interesting. read more

I have been in and out of classes for a long time. I have always been able to read and write better, but got nervous speaking. After the first few classes , I lost my shyness more and noticed , especially at work, that I felt a whole lot more confident. The class itself is great, the extra work on Duo Lingo, and Quizlet really helps you review and remember. I would definitely recommend. read more

I am 7 weeks into Beginner 1 and I could not be more thankful I found Elena Chicago a few months ago. Although I took Spanish in high school, I have never felt confident speaking Spanish. Elena's approach to teaching Spanish is fun and engaging, but perhaps most importantly it feels "do-able". She chunks the content in a way that feels manageable and never overwhelming. I look forward to her class each week and leave every class feeling like I've truly improved both my expressive and receptive language. As a school leader, I've seen my confidence improve when speaking in Spanish with parents. I look forward to Beginner 2 in January. Elena's class is worth every penny - sign up and you won't regret it! read more

Elena is a wonderful teacher. She's extremely engaging, supportive, relevant, and clearly intelligent. Her learn-by-storytelling method has allowed me to retain SO much more vocab than when I took Spanish in high school. The classes have been offered via Zoom since covid but it still feels like we're all hanging out at Club de Suerte, able to interact. I am so glad I chose Elena Chicago over a larger, less personal language school. If you were considering taking Spanish, this is your sign - sign up for one of her classes! read more

Elena is an awesome Spanish teacher! She makes class fun and engaging, and her method of teaching the language through storytelling enabled me to learn and retain new words fast. I was surprised at how quickly I was speaking full sentences and able to have conversation. The classes are taught through Zoom and the class size was small and personable. If you're looking to learn Spanish, I highly recommend going with Elena!! read more

Elena is a great teacher! The classes are at Club de Suerte and they are fun and engaging! She encouraged us to speak during each class which really helped me a lot. We listened to music, watched short videos, read books and discussed different topics. Such a fun way to learn a new language. I took Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 and I feel more confident in speaking Spanish. Highly recommend her! read more

I took Beginner Spanish 1 and had such a great time! I had taken Spanish all throughout grade school and high school and can mostly understand when people speak in Spanish, but have always had a hard time speaking back in Spanish. Spanish 1 was a great refresher and I loved that we actually got to practice conversations and story telling in Spanish. I also ended up making some amigas during this class and am excited to take Spanish 2 with them next! Elena makes learning Spanish fun. It's also nice that we get 20% off drinks and food at the restaurant that she teaches at and can bring a drink to class. read more

I have taken 4 classes with Elena, and my recent trip to Mexico was a great chance to see how my Spanish would work. I found that it paid off very well - I understood a lot, others understood my basic questions/comments, and I was very pleased with what I had gained. Thanks, Elena! read more

Before starting with Elena Chicago, I hadn't taken a language class in 12 years, and that was in French. The class is billed as "TPRS", meaning that it's not your traditional learn from a textbook course. The class time is spent doing short skits, reading a level-appropriate novel, learning important grammar, and having conversations with the other classmates. Despite having no Spanish experience other than a few words I've picked up from watching Spanish-language soccer broadcasts, the beginner class did wonders for my speaking ability in only 8 90-minute classes. Since then, I have also taken the Advanced Beginner and Intermediate-level classes, and my co-workers who are native Spanish speakers have uniformly remarked at how much my speaking has improved in literally just 20 classes over 5 months. The classes are lots of fun, you learn quickly, and it's WAY cheaper than comparable course in the city. Also, it's taught at a bar, and having a beverage during class is encouraged! How can you go wrong with that? Elena is a great instructor, and if you want to learn Spanish in Chicago, this is the way to go. read more

These classes are really outstanding. I'm shocked at how much I've learned, and I'm just finishing beginner level 2. My husband and I just returned from Mexico City and Oaxaca for Dia de Los Muertos and I was really proud of how much I could interact with locals, when I came into class knowing NO Spanish. I was even able to help other tourists. Elena's classes are fun and effective - she teaches the most commonly used phrases first, so I really quickly developed basic conversational skills, which is invaluable to a traveler. I can't recommend Elena highly enough! read more

I just finished Elena's Beginner 1 class and had a great time! I took middle and high school Spanish and it's been a while so I wasn't sure what my level would be. Her class was a great pace for me coming in with some knowledge especially as I understood a good portion still. She focuses on the use of story telling and makes the class very fun and interactive (and gives you lots of candy for focus!). Classes are at a very manageable time to fit into schedules and great location at Club Lucky in Bucktown (wine makes speaking Spanish much easier). I am very excited to be taking Beginner 2 next month and really proud of all that I accomplished so far. Definitely recommend! read more

Elena helps to make Spanish lessons as fun as possible, she keeps everyone engaged and entertained slightly increasing the challenge each week! Lots of interactive activities and at a great location (wine makes Spanish a lot easier!) it's the best way to learn Spanish, I have recommend her to many of my friends and look forward to taking the next level of her class! read more

I can say a lot of great things about Elena's teaching style: Fun, interesting, hilarious, and engaging are just a few adjectives that come to mind. But the most important one is this: Effective! This class is great! The last time I had a formal Spanish class was about 15 years ago and it was nothing like this. On the first day Elena explained to us what her teaching style is and so far I love it. It's something called TPRS (and I can't remember what it stands for at the moment) and it involves a lot of repetition of words along with gestures for them and all of this followed by story telling. It's the most fun I've ever had taking a class. About 75% of the class is taught in Spanish and she does such a great job with gesturing, props (including puppets), and vocabulary introduction that it's not a problem to follow along - even for low level Spanish speakers like me. In addition, her stories are hysterical. For example, last night's class involved a rich cow with a big house and "zapatos fabulosos". It also involved a dog that loved the shoes so much he stole them. At no point was anyone in the class unsure about what was going on because of the great teaching style. Everyone was also laughing the whole time. If you know a little bit of Spanish and you'd like a class that will not only teach you a lot more but do it in a fun way, you should give Elena a call. read more

This is your night school Spanish class, with discounted drinks. Elena is a native speaker and a high school Spanish teacher, and has great tools at her disposal for growing your language knowledge. From directed conversations with your tablemates to reading/listening comprehension sections to a variety of games, Elena's classes are anything but rote memorization. Yo necesito practicar mas, pero everything else is great (but that's my own fault). Sign up with her today, your skills are only waning away, and that little owl ain't gonna help much when you need a taxi in Peru... "la nino come la manzana?" (DuoLingo joke... you do it, you get it.) read more

I took Elena's Spanish class to prepare for a trip to Oaxaca Mexico. I took beginner 1 & 2 back to back and it was a great experience. I never took Spanish in school and while I was in Mexico I was the one confident enough to start conversation with locals even though my girlfriend took Spanish in high school and college. These classes are a great way to learn the basics and really become proficient in what you could call survival Spanish. You can take these beginner classes and end up being able to communicate on a basic level with Spanish speaking people. I was able to figure out more than I thought I'd be able to on my trip. read more

I have really enjoyed taking Elena's class. I have no Spanish education at all and I am only 6 weeks into the Beginner 1 class and I'm able to read a book in Spanish. She ramps up the vocabulary and teaches conjugation in a way that doesn't feel like a textbook. She also gives homework that is very easy to pick up and do at your leisure. If you are looking to take a Spanish class and are intimidated...this is the route to go. read more

Best way to learn Spanish, hands down! Elena is fabuloso! She's been teaching for years and now uses her preferred TPRS technique to teach adults Spanish. I find this particularly helpful as I'm not the quickest to learn when it comes to taking classes. The repetition of her method is super helpful and the exercises that she sends you online through Quizlet are really beneficial. Bottom line, Elena has an energy and enthusiasm that makes the learning more fun than your normal class environment. I mean who doesn't love that she teaches in the back of Club Lucky so you can grab a cocktail on your way to class? Fantastico! read more

I've had spanish lessons on and off since high school. I did fairly well each time I was enrolled in a class. Soon after taking the class my skills learned would dissipate. I was looking for an alternative style to learning language that would be engaging, and practical. I have taken Beginner 1 and currently in Beginner 2. I really love the learning format and different activities each class. We do a combination of listening, speaking, reading, writing and storytelling. It works great with my schedule and is fun to be around people interested in learning the language in this way. I plan on continuing all the way through Conversation classes. I encourage you to challenge yourself and learn Spanish with Elena Chicago. So fun and worth your time! read more

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Elena Chicago is a wonderful approach to learning Spanish. I started the Beginner 1 level with very little experience and now after finishing the three Beginner levels, I am amazed at how much I learned. I chose this program because of the focus on speaking the language, not just learning grammar. There is a lot of interaction, both with Elena and with classmates. This helps enforce the words and phrases Elena is teaching. There is also a reading competent, which helped build my vocabulary. I am far from fluent, but I feel like I have a very solid foundation to build on. Thanks, Elena! read more

Elena is Great. She make the class fun to learn. Lots of interactive activities. I don't feel line it's the end of the class session. She is so knowledgeable and export in teaching I just finished level.m B1 and I am registered for beginnerB2 in Jan. If you are interested in learning Spanish take her class I promise you enjoy it and learn so much. I highly recommend her. You Rock Elena. read more

I was talking to a family member recently about taking Spanish classes and how much I was enjoying them. Family member: "So where are you taking Spanish?" Me: "In the back room of an Italian restaurant." And it totally works. I took Spanish in high school but never developed good speaking or listening skills for it. I signed up for Beginner 1 after my husband & I decided we want to go to Spain next year (I like to talk to people when I travel). And now I can actually understand bits and pieces of conversations I overhear on the train, songs on the radio, greetings from neighbors. The vocabulary we learn is very focused on what's most used and most practical. The class is conducted largely in Spanish, but an absolute beginner can understand what's going on. Having so much of class spoken in Spanish really is helpful if the verbal aspect of language is a tough spot for you like it is for me. Classes are relaxed and fun, and I think I've learned as much taking this class as I did in high school Spanish. It's a great refresher if you haven't taken or used Spanish in a while, and an excellent introduction if this is your first exposure to learning it. read more

I am enjoying Spanish class with Elena Chicago much more than I ever did in high school! Not having had a Spanish class in 9 or 10 years, my husband and I chose to start with the basic level 1. I would say this is an "easy A" for me but also a really great refresher. And I plan to continue with the next classes in the series. The environment (the back room at Club Lucky in Bucktown) is very relaxed. You get homework and review it the next time in class. But Elena's philosophy seems to be that this is a class for adults, so put in the effort to get out what you want. If you don't do the homework, it's fine. She also encourages you to practice and review vocabulary through an online program. It's actually pretty fun and helpful. Almost everyone seems to buy a drink before heading into class which makes things even more easy-going. Students get a 20% discount on food and beverages- very generous! Elena always sets out candy during class and passes out prizes like stickers and pencils for winning the loteria or bingo. The whole time everyone is trying to converse in Spanish. Emphasis on speaking is definitely the approach here. I'm excited to continue with the classes. Elena Chicago has really boosted my confidence and encouraged me that I can improve my Spanish language skills as an adult. read more

I am now almost done with Beginning Spanish 2 with Elena. She is excellent and the classes are so much fun! Additionally, I have learned A LOT ... so much have I learned (not having had any Spanish language in my background) that my future Costa Rican parents-in-law were impressed with my Spanish on my most recent trip to Costa Rica! A comment from my fiance was: "All of a sudden you just started speaking Spanish!" I have found that Elena's methods of story-telling and reading are the most effective methods for learning a language. If you are looking for a Spanish language course, look no further than Elena! Your money will be well spent and you will come away with having learned a lot of Spanish in an enjoyable and relaxed environment. read more

I just completed Elena's Beginner 2 class yesterday evening, and was so sad to see it end! I lived in Spain for nearly a year, but that was 5 years ago and I, admittedly, hadn't practiced in quite some time. Elena's style of teaching (through stories, games and videos) really helped me to feel comfortable speaking the language again. She set up a call with me prior to joining, so we could speak briefly (in Spanish) to best assess which class would be best for me. Taking her class helped me to regain confidence when speaking Spanish and was a great refresher after so many years away from the language--not to mention, it was a BLAST. I hope to take the Beginner 3 course in the coming year. read more

Elena Chicago is fantastic! I took Spanish in HS and recently took classes in Nicaragua with Unearth the World. My time in Nicaragua really made me pull the trigger on finally taking classes as an adult. The pace of the class was perfect as was the learning style. It's very interactive and the homework is manageable. The location of class - Club Lucky - was easy to get to and the wine during class definitely helped. Elena has great energy and I look forward to taking her beginner 2 class this fall before heading back to Nicaragua. Highly recommend! read more

This class was an absolute blast to take! My wife and I took Beginning Spanish 1 with Elena. My wife has never studied Spanish before, and I took three years of Spanish in high school, so we were able to come at it from both sides. My wife left with a great basic understanding of the language, and I left with a solid refresher that prepped me for the next class. The classes are a lot of fun, and not having the pressure of working towards a grade or a test makes the class feel more like a hobby than a traditional course. I highly recommend the classes! read more

No better way to learn Spanish! You can have lots of fun and learn a new language at the same time.

These classes are so fun! Elena is a very engaging and energetic teacher and makes the classes interesting and fun. I just returned from Ecuador after completing Beginner 3 and found I was really able to speak with the locals. I was able to order food and drinks, give directions to housekeeping, speak with a pharmacist, etc. The trip was a motivator to continue with Elena's classes. Highly, highly recommend. read more

I just completed 8 weeks of Beginner 1 in anticipation of a trip to Bolivia. I didn't know what to expect and I feel much more confident entering this new country on my bucket list. Class was always full of energy and always surprising when 90 minutes came and class ended. Elena takes the group which is at several levels in their past language experience and seems to meld us all together in a very comfortable learning atmosphere. Stories are great, games add to the competition and studying at home is so much fun using her Quizlet exercises. Her reputation brings together a great group to be with on a weekly basis....do it, sign up! read more

I love this class so much... If I weren't moving I would totally be signing up for my third round. Elena's energy is contagious. She has so much passion for what she does. I can honestly say that I've learned more Spanish in the two courses that I've taken with Elena than I did in my entire academic career of taking Spanish in school. She makes learning & speaking Spanish approachable and fun. I recommend this class to all of my friends and family! read more

Rarely do you find the perfect balance of fun and learning....have to say this class is it! Elena is a masterful teacher ....having had some spanish in high school, I wished that my teacher then would have used Elenas method as I would have learned so much more. It is really a great class!!! read more

Elena's class was great! I need my schedule to calm down a bit but I want to take another round with her. I was really nervous to try a Spanish class and had no idea where my left over high school Spanish put me. Elena did a phone call with me before I signed up to make sure I enrolled in the correct session. We watched video clips, read a book, talked about our weekends, and more! It wasn't boring and everyone else is in the same boat as you so it's easy to make some new friends too. read more

Elena is just great! From the very first class, her energy is contagious. It is so clear that she loves what she does which only makes you want to pay even closer attention to what she's teaching. I just finished with the beginner one class and loved every bit of it. The classes are fun, engaging, challenging, yet somehow easy to understand. It has been such a fun way to learn Spanish and I'm so glad that I found Elena rather than sitting in some boring lecture style class where we're reading from a textbook! This is definitely worth the investment in yourself. read more

This class is excellent. As a recent college graduate with a minor in Spanish and certified to teach it in elementary school, I knew I was no where near comfortable enough in my Spanish abilities. However, Elena is such a wonderful and inspiring teacher. I learned more in 8 weeks with her than I did in 3 years in high school. I love that we also learn about culture in conjunction with vocabulary. You do not feel like you are learning tedious grammar. Elena incorporates so many fun games and we have so many opportunties to practice speaking what we just learned. This class is superior to the college Spanish I've had, and way less stressful. Anyone and everyone can be successful in learning Spanish and have fun in Elena Chicago. Try it! After 8 weeks, you will know how to hold a conversation in Spanish!!11 read more