Some classes are a waste of money - the duration of class is way too short to learn anything of…read moresubstance, "mid term" is 2-3 weeks into start of class, then the final is a few weeks after that. Some teachers are such big pushovers, they pass even the people who clearly should fail. Some students don't care so they leave early, or dont show up at all. Highly distracting and dissapointing. If they don't have enough people in a class, you're screwed and have to wait. Go to a real college and get a degree, it may take longer, but it's probably cheaper that way too.

This is the worst learning experience you will ever experience in Chicago. BIR is not a school; it…read moreis just a place for the people who don't have any legal status to obtain a student visa and find a cash paying job. Most of the students have no interests in learning. The owner and the administrative staff only cares about making money from the students. They will make the students buy the same textbooks over and over again. In plain language, BIR is a scam. I am surprised that ICE haven't investigated this place.

We have used Little Linguists as our weekly Spanish lesson for the children at For Your Child…read morePreschool for over 5 years and have had such an incredible experience. ALL of the staff are extremely professional, reliable, and energetic to keep our kids entertained for their classes each week! At the moment we have Ms. Marcela Peña as our weekly teacher and she is absolutely fantastic! I could not recommend this place enough!

My 5yo knows only basic Spanish, so I was super impressed with how the teacher engaged her in the…read morelanguage in a playful way at a trial class we attended. She didn't even realize that she was learning Spanish as they made crafts, sang songs and played games. I'm looking forward to seeing how much Spanish she learns at their summer camp, but I doubt she'll notice when she's just having fun with her friends and the high-energy teachers.

They really make the space count!…read more I decided to become a member ($50 a year for an individual) since I'm currently taking one of the virtual adult German classes. The membership gave me a discount on the class and so much more! I highly recommend the classes. My instructor is good about making everyone feel comfortable and included and has creative but fun ways to ensure everyone enjoys even the most challenging of topics, like grammar! Yes, I truly mean that German grammar can be fun! In addition to german classes, Dank Haus has so many different, affordable activities that you can sign up for. I've done the bilingual yoga classes - the meditation is all in English and the yoga part is all in German. Don't let the yoga all in German scare you off though! If you don't understand, you can just watch the instructor and mimic her. She's really good. The wild part is...the yoga classes only cost $5 each! Crazy! They were outside in the summer (on the terrace with a gorgeous view!) and soon to start up again this fall indoors. The cooking classes are also loads of fun. I've only been to one so far, but everyone was so kind and welcoming considering I went to it solo. I came out of the class happy I made some friends! Not to mention, each cooking class includes a drink in the price (choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic) so they're a great deal! If you're interested in touring the place, they offer guided tours and self guided tours by appt. You can do it via their website. I did a self-guided tour where I picked up a paper in the lobby of the highlights of what to see on each floor. I was surprised at how much history was crammed into even the hallways! There's definitely more than you think there is... I also requested to visit their library of books in German, since the public library is kinda lacking in that department. Their selection is excellent. They have everything from books to learn German to easy readers (short stories that aren't super wordy) to full fledged adult fiction to cookbooks. Id argue Dank Haus is a great place whether you know German, want to learn German, or know German. I wish I had learned about all the affordable activities they had sooner! All I know is I'll definitely keep on taking advantage of them

The Dank Haus is such a staple in the Lincoln Square community. If you haven't been here yet,…read morefollow their socials and get on their newsletter to find an event that interests you. On our latest visit, during the annual Open House Chicago architecture event throughout the city, we came in to appreciate the beauty of this big building. We popped up to the second floor bar to enjoy some beer and enjoyed watching the indoor shooting (not as scary as it sounds). The volunteers, regulars, and fellow patrons are always a good group to hang out with. If you're lucky enough to attend an event on the sixth floor, be sure to take photos out on the patio as the views are pretty nice! As far as transportation, it's right off the Western CTA Brown Line stop. There's paid parking on the closest streets (or lots). If you're willing to walk a few minutes, almost everything west of Western is free neighborhood parking.

Our family has been part of this Montessori school community for several years, and it has been…read morenothing short of wonderful. Our oldest son started at the school when he was three years old and recently graduated this past May after three enriching years. Our youngest son began attending at two and a half years old and is happily continuing his journey here at four years old. What makes this school so special is Ms. Olivia. As both the owner and head teacher, she pours her heart into everything she does. Her dedication, warmth, and consistency create an environment where children feel secure, cared for, and challenged in all the right ways. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every child and family has the best experience possible - whether it's coming in on a weekend to sanitize the classroom or even arranging her travel so there is no chance of a delay keeping her from being at school. She is fully committed to her students and their families. Communication is another strength that sets this school apart. Every Friday, Ms. Olivia sends thoughtful updates with photos and details about what the children worked on during the week. She greets families at drop-off and pick-up with genuine warmth, often sharing meaningful insights about each child's day. That consistency and attentiveness not only help the children thrive but also give us the reassurance that our children are growing in a space filled with attention and that they are nurtured every single day. The small classroom has led to a close-knit community of parents who support one another just as Ms. Olivia models each day. Through her leadership, the school has become not only a place of learning but a community filled with love, consistency, and trust. Ms. Olivia is more than a teacher - she is a guide, a role model, and the most influential person in our children's lives besides us. One of the things that continually amazes us is how Ms. Olivia's influence shows up in our children outside the classroom. Our youngest son often speaks with such colorful language and thoughtful expressions, and we can see that he is mirroring the kind, encouraging words he hears from her each day. Additionally, our children are learning to notice and care for the world around them in meaningful ways. They talk about how important it is to respect the earth - caring for trees, flowers... just be warned, if you want to kill an ant inside of your home... your child will scold you because "we cannot kill ants because they are living things too". We also see them practicing kindness in their daily lives, like showing concern for a friend or offering to help an elderly neighbor. It brings us such joy to know that their young minds are learning not only academics but also how to live with respect, empathy, and responsibility - lessons that will serve them for years to come. We truly believe there is no better place for young children to grow, explore, and flourish. These early years are the foundation of a lifetime, and we couldn't imagine entrusting them to anyone else. Her values mirror our own as parents, and it is such a gift to know that our children spend their days in an environment that reflects the same principles we strive to teach at home. If you are searching for a school where your child will be embraced, understood, and loved, this is it. You will not find a more dedicated, communicative, or caring teacher than Ms. Olivia. Sending our children here has been the single best decision we've made for their early years, and we wholeheartedly encourage any family to join this community.

I was immediately impressed with this school when I started going to DMM as a speech therapist for…read moreone of the students about 2 years ago. As a travel speech therapist, I have visited many schools in the area and none of them gave me the warm feeling that I got as when I walked into DMM. Ms Olivia is so kind, thorough, and intentional with her teaching and care. As soon as my son was of age, my husband and I enrolled him. As a nervous mother, my mind was put to ease as he came home smiling, sharing about his day, asking to go to school on a Saturday (!!!), and his overall positive attitude about school. This was so important to me- to have my child learn to love learning, especially in his first school experience. Ms Olivia is a wonderful communicator and kept us informed as he eased into the school routine. I could not recommend this school enough....

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 love LSMS very much! The teachers have loving hearts. The Rainbow room teacher Ms. Jinny has…read morelots of experience about gifted child education. There are 4 graduates were selected to gifted and classic schools.

Our daughter has been in the Sunshine Room for nearly a year already and she absolutely adores her…read moreteachers and friends. Our older child had attended two other daycares and this has been our favorite. Her teachers here have been supportive and responsive. She's loves sharing stories from her day. based on some of her stories and behaviors, it appears that she's learning basic conflict resolutions, learning empathy, and enjoy independent play along with group play. We are happy with our experience so far :-)

What a fantastic school for children! We have been at the school for 2.5 years and had a wonderful…read moreexperience in every way. The owners and management of the school truly care about the children and families. The teachers are passionate and engaged. I highly recommend the Skokie Goddard School for anyone looking for a program for their child.

I couldn't have asked for better or more attentive leadership from the family that ran itread more

We've been to the Old Town School many times, but not for several years now. A close cousin was…read moreplaying, who teaches at the school. We had tickets to see him play. Not reviewing his music (which was fantastic), but the venue. The room we were in was like a black box theater. The room was fairly small and intimate. It was open seating and when we arrived it was pretty full. We were very fortunate that there were two seats open in the third row. The room is acoustically sound (pun intended)... Seriously, being small, they really don't need to amplify the sound, even though they did have a microphone set up. As we were leaving, we got to roam the halls around the school. There were a lot of fun, vintage posters that were a lot of fun to look at. We met quite a few people who either had been students there, or were current students who had nothing but good things to say about the caliber of the educators and the Old Town School. Based on the performances we've seen there of students and faculty, I'd say we agree.

This update is regarding a visit to OSF was to attend their Wiggleworms open house. I've left the…read moreoverall rating the same because OTSFM is still great for a lot of reasons, but the Wiggleworms class isn't one of them. I've heard of the class before and always thought if I had a kid I'd take them, but I think the age range starts at 6 months so we started with a class with a different provider, Music Playhouse of Chicago. I'm glad we came to this one to try it out. While the kids seemed to be having fun, I didn't like it as much as the Music Playhouse class. Wiggleworms doesn't seem to have a developed curriculum. This was just an activity where the kids can grab shakers and toys, and the leader will sing what they want or take requests from the kids, but not a class that has any kind of particular learning outcomes upon which children build. Maybe it was different because it was an open house but I'd have expected they would showcase what an actual class was, and I think it's just not what I prefer. There are some pluses, though. They have weekend classes, which can be hard to find with other music classes for kids. I think it may also be significantly less expensive than the one I take my kiddo to. And they may have a few more babies-only classes than where we go now, which usually has only one of any (depending upon enrollment). I didn't realize before I had a child but there's a huge difference between children of 0-18 months and those beyond, so mixed age classes wasn't my thing at the time. So Wiggleworms has its pros, but overall I'd visit Old Town SFM for the classes and concerts but choose another children's music class.