Excellent teachers! Great experience learning Italian with all teachers originally from Italy. The…read moreprocess includes a lot of discussion time so you start speaking from day 1.

I waited until finishing level A1 before reviewing the Italian courses offered at ItalCultura as…read morethe tiny classroom, Aula (room) 1, was starting to become alarmingly full. Now that I'm safely well ahead of you in my studies, I will invite you to join. (; As soon as you exit the elevator to the floor where the Italian Cultural Institute is housed, you are transported. The instructors are all Italian, and there is often a cultural program going on on the floor during the evening classes, so you are immersed in Italian culture. I was hesitant to take night classes as I'm usually pooped after work, but this fear was abandoned on day one of class A1-1. Classes are taught in Italian, and the instructors are masters of judging exactly when to switch to English and when to switch back. You may not catch every word, and this can be intimidating at first, but it's astounding how quickly your ear adjusts. The classes are challenging and engaging, and Silvia is one of the best instructors I've ever had. This is coming from a life-long student. The staff is friendly and helpful, and I cannot describe to you the infectious energy you will experience and share with your fellow students and instructors at this extraordinary institution. Originally I'd wanted to learn enough Italian to converse adequately during my travels. Now I'm inspired to try and become fluent enough to be able to read Umberto Eco in his native language.

Learning a new language as an adult is very intimidating. I found Berges Institute's Beginners…read moreSpanish class very welcoming, encouraging and a great atmosphere to learn. Melissa was an engaging instructor. Class would be reviewing the week's homework and past lessons, learning the new work and drilling the lessons. There is a lot of memorization involved as there is in any new language learning. While I attended with a Groupon, I found their regular class prices being more then reasonable and plenty of class times and able to make up a missed class. Also they email a couple times a week to remind you of the homework, the next class time and if you need to go at another time and also tips to reinstate the Spanish you've learned so far. I look forward to learning from them more.

I signed up for a beginner level Spanish course a couple of months back to learn Spanish formally…read more The office personnel made signing up very easy and answered all of my questions. Classes were going well, I was learning quite a bit from the teacher Sofia, she was great with the class. I put in plenty of time outside of the course to practice too. Unfortunately, the whole covid pandemic disrupted my work schedule so I had to discontinue halfway through. I am likely to retake the course once my schedule stabilizes and I have an uninterupted free day. Great place to learn, highly recommend the Berges Institute and the teacher Sofia. -Elias

My son was at this school 2015 to 2017. He was in the Montessori program with Ms Robin who had zero…read morecompassion for kids; I am still mad at myself for staying for that long. I hope the new principal has turned things around because that was not the type of environment I would want to see kids in. There is a possibility that this is an ok school and i was just unfortunate with the teacher my son had + the principal at the time.

I love this school ! It's cozy where everyone knows everyone. The teachers give their all to their…read morestudents. The students excel. I love that it is faith based and includes the hearing impaired.

I will caveat this review by saying: If you are a parent looking for a school for your child,…read moreplease don't use Yelp. Talk to other parents, tour the school and discuss any questions or concerns you have with a staff member. Yelp is for finding a good recommendation for dinner, not for a critical decision like where to enroll your child in school. That said, we have two children in the PYP program and have been really happy. Our children are thriving, have surpassed academic standards for their respective grades, and the school is very responsive and communicative with parents.

I do not recommend Daystar based on my children's experience there…read more It has only been three weeks of school, and unfortunately, our experience has already been horrible. My older child has experienced repeated issues with other students that affected how safe, comfortable, and accepted he felt at school. Although we communicated our concerns and appreciated the attempts that were made to address them, the overall experience reached a point where my child no longer wanted to attend the school. I also became concerned about the level of care my 2-year-old was receiving. There were multiple times when she would come home with a dirty, runny nose that clearly had not been wiped or cleaned. I understand that toddlers get messy, but at two years old I expect basic care and attention to her hygiene throughout the school day. Another major concern was how distressed she became about going to school. Every morning, she would scream and cry for me not to leave her. At first, I tried to give her time to adjust because I understand that separation can be difficult for young children. But as the days continued and her distress remained so intense, it became harder for me to dismiss it as simply normal adjustment. The most disturbing concern came when my 2-year-old began telling me that her teacher, Mrs. Begley, had been pinching her on her bottom and yelling at her. My daughter is extremely articulate and bright for her age. She has a very strong vocabulary and memory, and people often assume she is older because of how clearly she communicates. She explained what she said was happening in a very specific way and even demonstrated to me how she said the pinching was being done. Hearing and seeing my child describe this was extremely alarming and upsetting. I take what my children tell me seriously, especially when it involves an adult responsible for their care. I cannot personally say what happened when I was not present, but I can say exactly what my daughter reported to me, how clearly she communicated it, and how distressed she had already been about being left at school each morning. I genuinely wanted Daystar to be a positive experience for my children, but within only three weeks we have already dealt with concerns involving my older child's emotional well-being, my toddler's basic care, her intense distress about attending school, and now an extremely serious report from my 2-year-old regarding her teacher. Every family may have a different experience, but based on what my children and I have experienced in such a short amount of time, I cannot recommend Daystar. My children's physical and emotional safety will always come first, and no parent should have to question whether their child feels safe, cared for, welcomed, and protected while they are at school.

If you are looking for Spanish classes - this is the spot…read more I took 3-4 years of Spanish in middle and high school and haven't "formally" studied since. I practiced on Duolingo a bit but noticed that my speaking and listening weren't improving very much on a trip abroad. I signed up for classes at LALC and instantly started progressing in my Spanish. The classes are 100% speaking and listening so you get an immersive experience for 2 hours a week. They also tell you how to best practice during the week so you can continue to learn after class. LALC combined with Duolingo helped me greatly improve my vocab, listen, and feel confident speaking. Highly highly highly recommend.

I have been taking Spanish lessons at LALC and must say this is the perfect fit for my needs. Mara,…read moremy teacher/owner, offers group classes or private lessons and super accommodates my every need. I have a very busy schedule and she always finds a time to work around it - be it morning classes or night. Her teaching style is very individual and she pushes hard to making sure you do your homework and get your money's worth out of it. It's great how she incorporates technology and e-learning thru shared google files as an integral part in her classes. I have lived in several countries and been taking language classes all over. Mara is hands down the best I've ever had!

A wonderful place to immerse yourself in French language and culture. The instructors are warm,…read morepatient, and genuinely passionate about teaching, which makes classes both enjoyable and effective. The building itself is charming and well-kept, and there are plenty of opportunities to practice through cultural events, film screenings, and workshops. Some classes fill quickly and scheduling can be a little tricky, but once you're in, the experience is enriching and welcoming. Whether you're a beginner or brushing up on your skills, Alliance Française offers a friendly, inspiring environment to learn and connect.

Wonderful place to learn French and connect with other Francophiles. A wide variety of courses for…read moreall levels to choose from.

I am writing this because parents deserve to know what kind of "Christian" high school Chicago Hope…read moreAcademy really is. As a child of God, I stand firm on my faith; I also believe that right is right and wrong is wrong and no matter what entity. This educational establishment is not above reproach and due to their lack of integrity where their actions have been inconsistent and disreputable, leads one to believe that the people leading this school is not suitable for ANY trust or leadership and must be held accountable. What happened to my child -- and to our family -- was not just disappointing. It was shocking, heartbreaking, and completely at odds with the values this school claims to represent. My child was expelled without a single real explanation. No meeting. No conversation. No attempt to understand what was going on. As parents, we were left standing there, stunned, trying to make sense of a decision that the school refused to justify. For an institution that talks endlessly about integrity and transparency, the silence was deafening. And let me be clear: this wasn't just a disciplinary issue. My child, like so many teens after COVID, has been carrying real trauma. Anxiety. Emotional exhaustion. The kind of struggles that any school -- especially a Christian one -- should be prepared to meet with compassion, patience, and support. Instead, they responded with the coldest, most dismissive approach imaginable. The counselor, who should have been a lifeline, was nowhere to be found in any meaningful way. No advocacy. No guidance. No effort to understand the emotional reality of a teenager trying to navigate a world that has been anything but stable. Their role felt symbolic at best, nonexistent at worst. And the disciplinary dean -- the person who should model wisdom, empathy, and discernment -- acted with a level of rigidity and detachment that was honestly disturbing. There was no trauma informed lens, no attempt at restoration, no recognition that teenagers make mistakes and need adults who can help them grow. Instead, the response was swift, punitive, and utterly devoid of grace. This school had a chance to live out the Christian values it advertises: redemption, forgiveness, compassion, partnership with families. Instead, it chose the path of least effort -- remove the "problem," avoid the conversation, and pretend that's leadership. It's not. It's cowardice dressed up as discipline. It's easier to expel a hurting teenager than to actually support them. It's easier to shut parents out than to admit that maybe the school mishandled something. It's easier to hide behind vague statements than to practice the honesty and accountability they demand from students. There's a name for this type of action - HYPROCRISY!!! By definition, the practice of professing beliefs, virtues, or feelings that one does not actually hold, often engaging in the same behaviors one criticizes in others. If you are a parent considering Chicago Hope Academy, especially if your child has any emotional needs, any trauma, any challenges at all -- please think twice. A school that cannot extend compassion to a struggling teenager is not a school prepared to guide them. A school that refuses to communicate with parents is not a school that values partnership. And a school that expels a child without explanation is not a school that understands the responsibility it carries. We expected a community rooted in faith and humanity. What we encountered was a system more interested in protecting itself than supporting the young people entrusted to its care. This experience was devastating for our family, and no parent should have to go through it.

Chicago Hope Academy has been a great choice for our son. Prior to attending Chicago Hope our son…read morewas not involved in any organized sports. Chicago Hope encourages every student to participate in a sport or extra curricular activity. Our son began running cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, and track in the spring. He has since dropped wrestling to participate in indoor track during the winter season. This has been a great experience for him as it has provided a place where he can feel part of a team, understand the work it takes to be an athlete, and the benefits of working hard to achieve progress toward a goal. The administration and staff at Chicago Hope have been fantastic. They are very receptive to parent involvement, and are willing to work with each student to make their high school experience a success regardless of the students future goals regarding college, trade school, or whatever choice is made. We have been very satisfied with our experience.

Midwestern Career College helps students to become successful professionals and provide them with…read moreresources that help to build their networking and job search skills. Be part of the MCC's talks

Midwestern career college is a great place. I recently had a chance to visit its campuses and learn…read moreabout its programs. It is amazing how it is the only college in Chicago that has a Surgical Technology and EEG Tech programs. The retention and graduation rates well exceed those of its competitors, including community colleges. The staff and faculty take pride in serving their students and enabling them to begin their careers in healthcare, and now in IT and business. It's definitely a great value proposition for this who thing the traditional college is not the right path for them.