We came here for an event about poetry in various languages by Chicago-based poets and translators…read more We used to come years ago (pre-pandemic) to watch movies, or listen to book reviews. We speak NO German but it was always a nice space to visit. We never joined to study the language or take classes but we definitely want to visit someday. The space is about how I remember it, and the presentation (we were kind of late) was good. The seating was not ideal. I was not able to see the subtitles for the readings (there were PowerPoint slides) so I sat in the very back on a sofa. I really blame myself for being too late to sit up front, not the institution. There was a wine reception following, with treats from local bakers as well as the Italian Cultural Institute. We chatted with a few people too. The view of Michigan Avenue from there is so great, even at night. I'd go back for another event, I do miss this place.

Once upon a time, I took German in High School. Over a decade later, I decided to rekindle my…read morerelationship with the language. There's a good chance that I may be going to Germany to teach English next year, so now is a good a time as any to take the class! I thought I would know a lot coming into the class (I barely tested into A1.2) but then I realized that there were already many things I didn't know or forgot. But the great thing about these classes is that you are thrown in and fully immersed in a certain theme of German speaking. ie, asking for directions, making a doctors appointment, telling time, etc. Unlike my HS German class, you don't necessarily learn "from the start" but take steps towards learning the language in a way that may be helpful in speaking and understanding. My last class is next week, but I've already signed up for the next level. The instructors seem to rotate and vary depending on skill level, but our teacher is simply the best! She's always high energy, positive, and makes the class engaging. I certainly hope she's the instructor for the next level! A great course at a great price. High recommendation.

Despite my knowledge of reading and writing in Spanish, I needed help with speaking the language…read moreand making a conversation. I found Fernando's lessons to be very interactive and based on several activities which makes them more interesting and enhances learning. It's so much easier to learn a foreign language with a great instructor like Fernando.

I have been a student of Fernando's for past 6 months and have had such a wonderful experience!…read more Fernando does a great job of guiding the lesson along in an interactive way, which is focused more on conversation and developing a comfort with the Spanish language. He is motivating, yet patient and I have already noticed a huge improvement in my capabilities since my first lesson. I highly recommend Fernando as a tutor!

This program is an exceptional opportunity to improve your spoken English…read more You'll start with basic pronunciation but will go very deep quickly. Sarah strikes a good balance between fun and learning, so you'll have a lot of insight without getting bored at the sessions. The materials included a handbook and the access to a well-structured web site. If you don't have much spoken practice, I'd recommend this program even if you're proficient in written English.

Sarah is great at what she does. I was in law school and interviews can get fairly stressful. Sarah…read morenot only helped me on my accent but also on the substance of my interviews. Besides being always responsive to and available for my emergency sessions, She has also given me numerous tips on the cultural things in America so I can make conversation flow more naturally, which eventually led to a job offer. I strongly recommend Sarah, especially for international students who are still in the process of interviewing.

I learned so much from Professor Hector! I highly recommend him. He has a very sincere attitude and…read morehelps students all the time. I never felt embarrassed, a problem that scan come up when learning a new language.

I have been a student of Hector Sepulveda for a few years. I've been studying spanish for many…read moreyears, and with a variety of different programs, schools and individual tutors. Hector is the best Spanish tutor I have had to date. He is an expert in: grammar, word usage, translation, literature, Latin American politics, conversation - all you could want in a spanish teacher. Also, he is pleasant, easy to be with, great sense of humor, interesting, and very respectful. I recommend working with him at any level. Hector is positive and encouraging, and makes the lessons enjoyable.

I started learning Italian while living in Italy more than a decade ago. While there I took group…read morelessons and private lessons. After returning to Chicago I took more group lessons, some private lessons, and back to group lessons. Approximately 7 years ago, I settled on Sentieri Italiani. Why? Because it was the best school I'd found and... because it's fun. There's a variety of things other than the standard classes to enjoy... movies, dinners, travel, game nights, etc. Currently I'm enjoying the Italian "book club" where we are reading not a text book, or a book written as supplemental material for a language class, but a book selected from the shelves of a bookstore in Italy where "real" Italians shop.

A friend and I snagged a Groupon deal for the Italian Language and Culture class at Sentieri this…read moresummer. Despite my love of classes, I approached this one with some hesitation - my lowest grades in school were always for Spanish class (well...and gym), I'm not naturally gifted at foreign language, I have no time/desire to study, and I'm not Italian. But my friend assured me there would be alcohol at every class and I would love to travel to Italy some day, so I bought the Groupon and enrolled. I'm so glad I did - it was a great experience! The school itself is fairly small - just a sitting room with couches and a large table and one classroom. I was greeted when I arrived for our first class by our adorable, enthusiastic instructor Enrico. Classes seem to be kept pretty small - we had about 10 students in ours. The Language and Culture course is split into two halves - the first half of the two hour class is a language lesson, which was taught by Enrico. Obviously there isn't a ton of language you're going to learn in three one hours sessions, but we were able to cover basic pronunciation and some key concepts for travel (time, how to book hotels, etc.) The second half of the class is about Italy's history and culture and is taught by the school's founder, Daniela. Daniela's theory, which I really appreciated, is that learning a language divorced of learning the culture is pointless - you'll never be able to make your way in the country. The culture lessons were fascinating and, yes, involve food and alcohol. Each session was incredibly enjoyable - I couldn't believe how quickly the time went. The school also really tries to foster a sense of community. After the last class we were invited to hang around and let our "liquore" wear off while enjoying cappuccino in the lounge area. The school also hosts book clubs, movie screenings, dinners and trips (they organize tours of Italy every year). Unfortunately my schedule doesn't currently allow me to take regular language lessons here, but this is a great resource in the city and I highly encourage everyone to check it out. Even foreign language study-phobes like me.

We absolutely love Bilingual Montessori Lab and cannot recommend it enough. Miss Claudia is a true…read moreprofessional with over 30 years of experience in Montessori teaching, and it shows in every aspect of the school. Our child has been attending Miss Claudia's school for the past two years, and the growth we've seen has been remarkable. She has developed so much independence, confidence, and curiosity, and she genuinely looks forward to going to school every single day. What we appreciate most is the well-rounded, hands-on curriculum. It is deeply rooted in practical life skills, nature-based learning, and is thoughtfully guided by each child's individual abilities and interests. The environment feels intentional, nurturing, and empowering for young learners. We are so grateful to be part of this community and highly recommend Bilingual Montessori Lab to any parents seeking an authentic Montessori experience with full Spanish immersion.

A great experience! I took the 101 course and although I'm definitely not a master craftsman (they…read morewould have had to perform miracles for that to happen) I took away a lot from my time here. Mark, the instructor for 101, is extremely knowledgable and accommodating. I missed a couple of classes because of work, but was able to make it up and finish with the class thanks to his help! I learned a lot more than I thought I would and am now considering taking the 102 course.

This 8 week program was worth every cent. I completed the course almost 2 years ago but still use…read morethe book and vocabulary taught in the class to this day! Andy and his teaching assistant were very thorough in their explanation of things, and gave me a solid beginner's understanding of the language. Just a tip: if you're going to take this class, listen to the pinyin alphabet on YT daily while you take the course. It really impacts your pronunciation.

Andy is a great teacher! Very fun and energetic, makes learning chinese entertaining and lively. He…read moregives homework too and post class review material which i like