Very good teacher is very nice and they teach very well. It is a very nice atmosphere and you've learned a ton there's also good front desk and helpers read more

Instituto Cervantes - Cultural Center Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

1. they never answer their phones and never return messages left on voicemail. IVR phone system doesn't work - "to speak to an agent, press 1 at any time" does nothing. Thus, all transactions need to be done in person in downtown Chicago. 2. teachers only teach Castilian Spanish including conjugations that are not used in the US. 3. teachers talk too fast even when you ask them to slow down. if I could follow spanish speech at normal speed I wouldn't need lessons. 4. would not recommend. read more

I *LOVE* this place. We've been coming off and on for several years now. If it's not for a class, it is for a social event, or a concert, or an art expo. They have all kinds of activities going on! And the location in the Loop is just perfect. The place is very clean, very well lit, the personnel is super attentive and friendly. They have discounted parking across the street (on Ohio St) at --wait for it... $10 a day! So, if you want to come and spend a bunch of hours getting your Spanish fix, this is the place. One of my kids has been coming here for drawing and sketching class for a little over a year now. Even though we could have found a place closer to where we live, we decided to come here since the class is in Spanish --double whammy! In fact, I am writing this review as I sit in a lounge they have near the classrooms, waiting for my kid to come out, drinking free coffee, over complimentary Wi-Fi. My wife has attended cultural events, concerts, meetings and gatherings. Everything around Spanish culture and Language. They have a very well stocked library that will loan you books in Spanish, magazines, etc. I can't recommend this place enough. Give it a shot and you will not regret it. Olé !!! read more

I when there to see uno mas y la cuenta The seats don't have a numbers ppl just walk all over no information at all Angelica atondo Martha Medina Rebecca Aleman Good job Me rei mucho read more

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DO NOT RENT THE SPACE! **DISCRIMINATES** Had an event earlier this year which turned out to be a success with 120 people. I went to the Instituto to request the venue a second time and suddenly they no longer want to host an event of "that scale." However, the EventUp website mentioned no such changes (still has the same information from my original booking) which leads me to believe it's discriminatory. I'm 100% sure this space will still be rented for similar events in the future (a fashion show), just not by an African-American, or maybe even other non-Spanish minorities. read more

It saddens me to update my review for Cervantes, especially given my previous positive experiences with the language classes and programming. UPDATE TO MY UPDATE: I was asked to take down this review by the cultural coordinator at Cervantes, which I have. If you are interested in hearing about my experiences with institutional entities of Spain in greater detail, feel free to private/ direct message me. The way in which it was requested for me to do so is testament to the unprofessionalism I experienced, which compelled me to write my original review. I am happy, however, to report that my business is on the path to becoming a reality and that I am now taking Spanish courses with a different language school. read more

First of all I'm going to review the Instituto Cervantes as a language and cultural institute and not just a school. I've had lessons from 5 different teachers here and they *ALL* have different styles of teaching, so it would not be fair to say that the institute implements one style of teaching. They all use the same book (ELE) which I personally find more useful for cultural learning than language learning. With that, any of the teachers could give you recommendations on supplemental books to learn and practice the grammatical rules and such. The teachers I've had are also very supportive and encouraging if you want to do more work outside of class. They really want you to succeed (but they can't force you). And merely taking a 1x week class is not enough to learn a language. Fortunately, being a student gives you access to their library where they have books for beginners, audio, and DVDs to check out for free. Reviewer below said you can't rely on this place alone to teach you spanish. You think??? There is no short cut to learning language. I watch at least an hour of Spanish TV every day, one movie every other week, do practice problems in supplemental books on TOP of my weekly class and assignments. To me, this is still not enough. Ideally I would have to dedicate 4-5 hours per day. If you are serious about learning Spanish, you should dedicate some effort into it because the classes aren't really cheap. You're wasting money if you're not going to dedicate yourself to it because there are self study materials that you can use at home for cheaper. read more

This should be a 4 star review. 3 stars at worst. But I'm knocking it to 2 as a compromise. Class instruction is 3 or 4, but many variables will of course influence your specific experience. The way administration handled me personally, that's the 0 or 1 star that averages the review down to 2 stars. I was having a very good experience and was eager to schedule further classes. But after taking two group classes and working directly with the Institute's Academic Director to take a series of individual classes at Cervantes I have been left high and dry. I have received no response to multiple inquiries (over 4 weeks, so this is not a knee-jerk reaction) about trying to set up my next series of classes. It's really kind of unbelievable and makes me feel foolish for having once been so excited and positive about trying to build up my Spanish language skills here. Now I'm just out $1,200+ and have let 5 weeks go by losing momentum on the learning base I had established. My instructors, Estela for the group classes (Beginner 3 & 4) and José (individual instruction) were great and I would work with them again. Personally I prefer the nature of the individual instruction. It is definitely more expensive per hour, but the value was there for me. In the group classes, you really are rolling the dice hoping you get classmates of similar skill, experience and learning styles. If you get some wild cards, it's not a bargain, no matter how many discounts they offer you. José - if you read this, message me and let's set up direct lessons. read more

Instituto Cervantes knows what they're doing. They have centers around the world and years and years of experience teaching Spanish as a foreign language. I've been taking classes at Instituto Cervantes for about a year and a half. I began at a very beginning Intermediate level and am now in the Advanced Level. It's so rewarding to be able to read the newspaper, listen to the radio, and watch programs in Spanish. It's something that I imagined years ago but hard to really picture happening until...it's happening! For me, this school stands out for multiple reasons. First and foremost, the teachers that I've had have been incredible. The professors come from a variety of countries and all seem to have advanced degrees and experience teaching Spanish in other countries as well. That's all fine and dandy, but more important to me is the high level of enthusiasm, and the ability to build on past knowledge and correct without being discouraging. The work is challenging but engaging. Beyond the teachers, Instituto Cervantes has incredible resources. They have a library for students to use with books, films, etc. There are also cultural events and programming all throughout the year. All of that is worth mentioning because learning a langage takes a good teacher as well as exposure to the language as well. There is the possibility of as much involvement as you'd like here. This is obviously quite a glowing review but I've just been very thankful to find this school. I have tried to learn through other means and other schools/teachers and found the process frustrating. The philosophy, teaching style and teachers all really clicked with me here and I've stuck with this school ever since. I have found this to be the story with other classmates as well. I really appreciate that this school doesn't water down their classes. Hopefully I'll continue to have as much luck with my future teachers. I'm sure that they are all great but I'd like to mention two professors in particular who have really been incredible. If you have the chance you definitely can't go wrong with Cristina Iglesius or Jose Antonio Fernandez. read more

I've been going to Cervantes for a semester now, and I feel like I should let everyone know how GOOD this place is. I have a fantastic teacher who makes sure everyone participates and that we understand what she's saying before moving on. And she's funny. I've heard that other teachers are not as good, so maybe its just my brillant luck to get her. Her name is Claudia Mendoza. Besides her, Cervantes has a great library stocked with award-winning films you can borrow for FREE. Super. (better than a blockbuster anytime) My only gripe was that I have to register at the security everytime to get into the John Hancock building. (wasting precious minutes because most of time I'm late for class because of the CTA) Happily, I've just learnt that they'll be moving soon this spring. read more

I called Instituto Cervantes to register for a class. Their online information listed the class taking place on a certain day, but the detailed description listed the class taking place on a different day, so I wanted to ask which day is the correct one. As no one answered, I left a voice mail. When no one returned my call, I called again and mentioned that I had left a voice mail earlier that day, but since I had not heard back and would like to complete my registration, I am calling again. The man who answered interrupted me rudely before I could say anything more: "Do you know how many voice mails we get?! We can not be expected to call them all back! We would be making calls every half an hour!". I was so surprised by his manner and response that I said: "Wow... Maybe I should re-think signing-up" to which he responded coldly, "that's fine, just call us when you are ready" and hung up. It is really a shame that Instituto Cervantes has someone like that answer their phones. It does not make me want to take a class there if that is how they treat people. read more

My children have taken the Spanish classes for bilingual students and they have benefited from them. I want to shout out to the world how amazing the Spanish program for children is! My children have thoroughly enjoyed learning the Spanish language through fun and educational activities. I highly recommend any parents with bilingual students to give this program a try. read more

First of all, this review is strictly about the Center's facilities / Film screening room, and doesn't reflect on the quality of classes! Had the chance to visit Instituto Cervantes for yesterday's Latino Film Fest special screening of "El Cementerio de los Elefantes," a film from Bolivia. Given that the film was only shown once at 6pm on a weekday, I was excited to learn that the center is right in downtown! Firstly, I love the brightly lit & colorful main entrance!! The security / receptionist was super nice and extremely friendly, guiding me upstairs toward the theater for the movie screening! I was impressed by how open the entire space was, with full-length windows giving the center plenty of natural light. The reception area upstairs was nicely decorated, with plenty of brochures / handouts promoting both Latin culture (I grabbed a poster for Flamenco) and overall intro about the center. It was cool to learn that the center was started as a non-profit, aiming to introduce the public to the delights of Latin culture! Venturing further, the corridor was lined with medium sized classrooms and I saw a couple classes in session, the classes appeared small with 10-18ppl capacity? Finally, I reached the theater. The seating were auditorium-esque, with low seating and a deep stage space for presentations / plays. However, the movie screen was set all the way back, and it was much smaller than I'd anticipated. During the screening, lights were not dimmed thus affecting the overall viewing experience. The sound system was okay- loud only towards the front of the theater, and the speakers weren't exactly placed for a Surround-Sound experience. Overall, I was really impressed with the setup for the institute! Now that I've learned student membership is only $25 annually (tax-deductible!) with access to the Multimedia library, I'd definitely be back to check out the festivities & possibly take a class! read more

I'm currently on my second class here. I've had a chance to experience a few teachers and they have all been great. I love the Spanish culture and influence they bring into the Institute. Everyone has been so nice and I hope to continue to learn Spanish here until I become fluent. read more

Instituto cervantes is an excellent Spanish language learning school. I took a super intensive course (beginner) and this was the first time to study spanish. From the first day, I found myself afraid that I am not gonna do well, so I talked to my teacher Claudia Mendoza who is an amazing outstanding teacher and I told her what I am gonna do. She gave me a strong push and told me feel free to come and talk to me any time if you have a question. she made me love learning spanish. At the end of course I was competing the other students in the class by answering my teacher's questions. In addition it is really fun to explore the latino world and the fabulous latino culture. I recommend this school to any one wants to learn spanish. Last thing I wanna say is, from the depth of my heart I want to thank my Teacher Claudia Mendoza for here help and support. You are the best teacher ever, I've ever seen. Thanks, Saad,MD read more

I am taking an online Ave Spanish class at Instituto Cervantes. The teacher is good, but the workload is impossible. The online description said the work would take about 4 hours a week. It was my understanding from the written description that the course would include 4 online tutor lessons (with a group) and then I would get 120 days or 90 days or something to work through the material. But instead we are expected to get through 14 lessons a week for the teacher, and it's just killing me. I already have a stressful full time job and a family and this has increased my stress level to the breaking point. Probably won't enroll in another course for this reason, even though the materials are challenging and interesting and the teacher quite good. I have been wondering if this was a goof-up? No one at Institute Cervantes has addressed my concerns. read more

I have been taking beginner lessons here. I have now registered somewhere else to continue with my studies. I would not recommend IC for long term lessons. The quality of instruction really varies, the library is often not available, and it's not the friendliest place. Also, I find it to be overpriced. You could get a private tutor instead. I will talk specifically about my current (and last) course that I am taking there. We have had 3 different instructors for a single class (without knowing ahead of time). We have moved so slowly through the workbook that I could miss a couple of weeks and not feel behind. I really knew I was finished when I needed to start leaving class early because I was falling asleep! I am giving the place a 3 instead of a 2 because the instructors are overall nice, but unfortunately the institution as a whole lacks consistency and their prices are much too high for what you receive. read more

Cervantes Institute is cheap. The lessons come out to roughly $15 an hour. You're not going to get any better than that. But, I don't think you can rely on this place alone to teach you Spanish. I started as an Intermediate learner and the people I was in class with who only had Cervantes experience were not strong Spanish speakers. But, I was impressed by their grasp of the grammar rules if not their ability to instantly summon it. The problem is, it's group classes so while you get exposure, you get little practice. read more

We signed our 9 year old up for summer camp and decided to cancel on the first day because they had put all the children together, regardless of age/Spanish level, and there was no schedule of activities for the day. Unfortunately, we were not made aware that they charge a $50 "processing fee" when you cancel. It seems like an outrageous amount to pay for "processing." Bottom line: I would not recommend this camp. There are way better options throughout the city. read more

I have always wanted to learn a second language, and have tried several different programs and schools to try to get me there. I have always struggled but the professors at Instituto Cervantes has really made the learning experience an enjoyable one. The small class sizes, the large selection at the library, and the other students makes me feel comfortable and excited about learning a new language. Not to mention that there are always different events going on at the school, from art to literature to flamenco dancing demonstrations. I have already taken 3 classes here, and I am excited about continuing my progress to be able to speak Spanish. read more

Intensive Spanish classes. Great teachers, nice facilities. Their Spanish library is very extensive; you have membership to it for a year after taking the class. read more

Disclaimer: This review is for Cervantes as an event space, rather than a Spanish language school. I had the privilege of attending a Chicago Public Library Foundation evening event on the second floor of the space. The setup was conducive to mingling and talking and the staff were helpful in directing me to where the event was being held. The photographic exhibit of Xavier Nuez' Alleys & Ruins was displayed to full advantage, and the upstairs area had the look and feel of a gallery, even as classrooms lined the halls. I recently learned that Instituto Cervantes was voted best Foreign Cultural Center in Chicago by NewCity. Oftentimes, it is easy to overlook these sorts of places amid all of the larger entities on the city's cultural scene, which is unfortunate, as the events here are well planned and curated with obvious care. I look forward to returning here to take in future exhibits and other enrichment activities. read more

I've taken a couple of spanish classes in the past, and Instituto Cervantes has far exceeded my expectations. The instruction is very practical and their approach to teaching spanish has been very helpful to me as someone juggling learning spanish with a full-time job. Their class schedules are very flexible and the price is an amazing value. In addition to the great classes, their library is incredible, and the opportunities for cultural involvement are numerous. There seems to be a new art display or cultural production every month - if not every week. I highly recommend giving El Instituto a try - like me, you may never want to stop! read more

Hola Amigos! I'm now on my third class at the Instituto Cervantes and I've been really impressed with the instruction and the facilities. It's been a great experience and with it being such an enjoyable learning environment, I foresee myself continuing to take Spanish classes. My current instructor has really motivated me to practice my Spanish outside of class, by talking with others, studying, reading books, watching movies, etc. The class environment really fosters participation by all students. I had never taken a Spanish class and only spoke one language when I started at the Instituto Cervantes. Some of the others in my first class had some Spanish instruction years ago or already had a second language, so they were a bit ahead of me with regards to learning another language. However, I stuck with it, studied and look forward to continuing my Spanish language education. If you interested in learning to speak Spanish, I highly recommend the Instituto Cervantes. read more

Ok I loved my professor Emma she taught me so much in our beginner level spanish class. Our classmates laughed and had so much fun learning together in class. Oh and my new little buddy Javier is spectacular. I met him on his first day in the Library! He remembers my name when I come to the school. That's great customer service. read more

If you go do not get Hector for a teacher. No patience and makes you feel like you can't ask any questions without the third degree!!! They only have a couple of teachers so if you are not enjoying your class you out of luck because they will not refund your money! I would look else where! read more

Wasn't crazy about the teaching style there. I took a beginner's class and most of the people in the class had already had some Spanish and it seemed the teacher took the ball and ran with it with them. She just overloaded us with information without really seeing if EVERYONE understood each topic enough to move on, particularly with the verbs ser and estar. Each 3 hour class was just a torrent of Spanish verbs, nouns and phrases that became a torture and very unpleasant. It was like the teacher was trying to cram in as much as she could in 10 classes which to me is ineffective and ridiculous. I would avoid this place if you don't know Spanish basics like conjugating verbs ending in ir, er or ar, pluralizing and "genderizing" adjectives, etc. Total waste of money and I am learning MUCH MORE on my own. read more

I just took a class at Cervantes, the facility and the staff is incredible, not to forget about all the cultural events the institute has. When taking classes at Cervantes not only you get to learn and interact with people from spanish speaking countries but you also you get to learn more about the different cultures. I highly recommend instituto Cervantes to anyone who wants to not just learn Spanish but also the experience behind all Spanish cultures. read more

I have been a student at IC since 2002 and I am disappointed in the quality of teaching at this place. I wish there were a better option but at the moment it seems IC has the higher of teaching standards. However, it is still poor in my opinion. There are two really good teachers from Spain and the rest are newbies and don't seem to communicate their knowledge very well. When you finally become an advanced student, there are very few classes for you and the IC doesn't seem to care because they don't offer many new classes for adv. students. Perhaps the IC isn't paying its teachers enough $$$? I know Spain is in the tank but the QC is really lacking in this place! I don't know if it is a cultural problem, but I get the impression that the teachers are lazy and do the bare minimum to get by. There doesn't seem to be much quality control of the content of the classes and no one in administration seems to care or be bothered. Some of the teachers have poor attitudes and some teachers don't seem to know as much grammar as they appear. One of my teachers from Spain was good but she could only teach to her notes. When I asked a question "outside of the box", she didn't know the answer or was unwilling to find out. When I took a literature class, my Colombian instructor, used the class as a forum for his Marxist-Leninist beliefs and used the class as his personal political stump. His personal hygiene was bad, too. He showed up smelling of BO on a Sat. am. Why isn't the new director monitoring the teachers' behavior and performanin class in "real-time" and on a consistent and unannounced manner? The rigor of these classes also leaves a lot to be desired. Why are the intensive classes only once for 3 hrs.? The Goethe Institute has the same class for 3 hrs. for 3 days a week. Quite a difference here. Wake up IC! On a positive note, the library and staff are fantastic! read more

I'm a fan of Cervantes! I've been taking classes here on and off for several years now. Their new facility is amazing. The library in and of itself is almost worth the price of your classes. The class size is just perfect, not too big and not too small. The teachers know what they are doing and make learning another language fun. I also enjoy the cultural programs at Cervantes. read more

Fabulous teachers (really - fabulous), curriculum that's fast enough that you feel you're getting somewhere, fun classmates. I think the thing that I appreciate most is that the teachers come from everywhere. They offer an insight into their respective countries, customs, slang and culture. read more

This is one of Chicago's undersung cultural gems; I neglected it myself until a few years ago. Although operated by the govt. of Spain, it caters to the entire Spanish-speaking world, and this is reflected in the diversity of its staff and its cultural offerings. Excellent library, small but very good auditorium. I have seen a lot of excellent films and concerts there, and I have also taken some classes; in addition to the standard language classes, there are specialty courses from time to time. The classes are small, between 4-12 people, which allows for a lot more individual attention than large classrooms. If are are looking for Spanish-language instruction (yes, they have courses for children too), I would recommend them highly, and if you aren't, you should still watch their cultural calendar, which usually has something interesting going on. read more

Instituto Cervantes is a terrific place to not only learn Spanish, but to learn about Spanish & Latino culture as well. I've been taking classes since last January and my abilities have increased immensely since that first awkward rolling rrrrrrr. The class sizes are small (3-6 people in most cases) which allows for a lot of 1-on-1 learning. The teachers that I've had, have been extremely patient and helpful. In general, they're not so rigid as to point out every single tiny mistake (thus putting you off from participating), but will point out larger mistakes and work with you on your weaknesses. Also, the facilities and library are great, as mentioned in the other reviews. They team up with other organization and put on a lot of cultural events in Chicago during the year (flamenco concerts, art exhibitions, etc). Last fall I had the chance to use my new linguistic abilities in Argentina and I was really surprised how well I was able to get around after 6 months of classes. read more

My interest in learning a second language was sparked by my wife who is a native Spaniard. I had learned some Spanish at home but never taken Spanish classes. Wanting to take my speaking/reading ability to the next level I decided to take a beginner class at the Instituto. I was really amazed at how well the in class instruction and homework complemented the Spanish I had already learned and really accelerated the pace at which I was understanding/speaking. The classes are designed to teach both practical Spanish for everyday situations as well as the grammar you need to master the language. The library and classrooms are top notch and the location couldn't be better if you work downtown! I have attended several events as well including concerts and art showings which I have enjoyed. I plan on continuing my education at the Instituto Cervantes and would highly recommend them to anyone interested in learning Spanish. read more