This school is a hidden gem. We feel so lucky to have found it. It is worth the drive from our…read morehome in Glen Park. The teachers Elodia, Dilcia and Maritza are so wonderful, loving, enthusiastic, and creative. They are the heart of the program. The physical space is wonderfully big and inviting, with lots of outdoor space for running and climbing and scooters and mud play, as well as chickens, and a vegetable garden. The school is based in a home and has a home feel, with a great student to teacher ratio, but the home is remarkably big for SF and has several areas set up for different children's needs, like a quiet tent and a gross-motor sensory play area. Our daughter Elena has blossomed there in the last six months since she started. She was at a Spanish immersion daycare before that and always liked it fine, but she seems more engaged with her teachers and her peers and her activities now, and has more to tell me at the end of the day. Her level of Spanish has changed dramatically. She is now speaking in Spanish sentences. The teachers at Nido really speak only in Spanish to the children and many of the children are communicating back in Spanish, which wasn't the case at the daycare we were at. They do a lot of creative projects and go on quite a few field trips as well--it feels like an adventurous school. The teachers are willing to adapt to children's individual needs as well, such as when they problem-solved until Elena would take a nap at last. I think it's a good sign that Elena sometimes tells me to go away when I arrive to pick her up!

My daughter attended Nido during the 2019-20 school year and we really loved it. The teachers and…read morethe director are warm and welcoming. My daughter had almost no Spanish background and learned so much while she was there. They communicated well and worked closely with us to help her adjust to the program. We got so many great suggestions for working with our daughter, both regarding language and overall development. The space itself is also really beautiful, spacious and well organized. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a top notch home based Spanish Immersion program for your child.

Carolina is the best. I'm getting married in September and my fiance is Chilean. When I met his…read morefamily a year ago (who all live in Chile and don't speak English), I could barely communicate with them and relied on translation. In preparation for the wedding (and my future life), I wanted to learn Spanish so I could communicate with my new extended family. I've been taking private classes with Carolina now for about 2.5 months, and my Spanish is worlds better. I can have simple conversations, have learned useful phrases, and have been practicing conversations I'm likely to have at the wedding so it's relevant. Carolina encourages you to speak as much as possible (even when you don't think you can), and focuses on useful vocabulary vs. a bunch of words you won't need (fruits, veggies, animals, etc.). She calls it "survival Spanish" and it works! It's fun meeting with Carolina - more like hanging out with a friend than going to class - and she's super encouraging. She's also very flexible arranging classes around your schedule. I've done in person and Skype sessions and both are great. My fiance is really impressed with my progress and happy that I'm making the effort! If you've been wanting to work on your Spanish but think it's too hard or you can't get better, Carolina will help and make it painless! I highly recommend.

Re: 5-day Immersive Conversation Course in Valencia: I've been studying with Carolina for nearly a…read moreyear when I learned she was holding a 5-day conversation course in Valencia. Going on this course was one of the best investments in my Spanish learning I have made. Not only was the price of the course "great value for money," but because she scheduled the course in early November, after the tourist season, both the airfares and the hotel rates were within my budget. So those elements made it easy for me to say yes to the course. And Carolina did not disappoint! The week started with a welcome drink on Sunday evening where were met up with Carolina and the other students (in this case, it was just Peter and I). As I walked back to my hotel, I realized we had been speaking nothing but Spanish for nearly two hours and I understood most of the conversation. And then we were off to the races! The days started at 10 a.m. and ended about 3 p.m. They consisted of personal tours in Valencia, bike rides, boat rides, visits to the Mediterranean Sea (two times!), walks through famous markets, and breakfast and lunch together each day. Carolina made sure that we, the students, asked all directions, ordered all meals and conducted our own market negotiations. It was heaven for a language learner, and we really got to know Valencia and its environs. I should note that Carolina gave us an assignment at the end of every day and we went over that at breakfast the next. The assignments took some time, but it was a great way to reflect on the day and to use some form of grammar or tense in a focused way. One evening, my fellow student, Peter, and I went out to see Flamenco. We were both so committed and having so much fun that we spoke only Spanish even without Carolina there! I continue to study with Carolina once a week and I'm still feeling the great positive effects of my week in Valencia. If you want to move your Spanish language skills up a bit notch, Carolina's week in Valencia should be on your list.

Ms. Valérie is an excellent teacher. She's currently tutoring my 8 & 5 years old children and…read morethey're looking forward to every session with her. She has a special way of engaging them with songs, games, stickers and stories which makes learning more fun. Every session, they work on handouts and after I get to review the materials with them. We love her so much that we're currently waiting to add another day with Valerie if her schedule opens up. I've been looking for a French tutor for a really long time and so glad I've found Ms. Valérie!

Valérie has made my experience as an adult French learner very enjoyable. Our lessons begin with a…read moreone-on-one conversation in French about different topics each week. These conversations are a highlight for me, as having real conversations in the language are a crucial part of learning that I lacked when I had previously used only learning apps or other online resources. What's more is that Valérie provides responsive feedback during the lessons, and records the phrases or parts of speech with which I struggle the most. This has helped my personal study time outside of lessons become much more effective.

This is my child's second year with EFBA in Alameda. She loves her Francophone teacher, Angelique,…read moreand her French skills have improved even beyond my expectation. The teacher to student ratio is very excellent, and the other children are good classmates. I highly recommend these French classes.

This Spanish language school is run by Patricio Tapia, a native of Chile who has lived in the San…read moreFrancisco Bay Area for 38 years. Patricio, along with his able staff, are skilled at teaching basic conversational Spanish in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. There is no text book, just drawings and hand-outs that are used to enable students to easily learn Spanish. I started taking Patricio's beginning class in August of 2008, having had some classes in Spanish in the past while traveling in Mexico, but never having taken regular Spanish classes. I am now reading simple short novelas, can easily conjugate verbs in several tenses, and feel comfortable with simple, basic Spanish. It's a great feeling! The actual classes are fun, as Patricio has a winning manner and the ability to keep everyone in the class relaxed and at ease. I look forward to my class each week. I highly recommend this school. Classes at all levels are offered, and all are taught by native Spanish speakers. The price is extremely reasonable. My favorite part is that I don't have to take classes by semester, but monthly, and I can continue my studies through several levels very easily, with advanced classes easily available.

Primeros Pasos took us in the middle of the school year when we were trying to manage a childcare…read moresituation between our three year old and her new sister. We toured a bunch of schools, but ended up at PP mostly because they had the right vibe. They didn't force-feed us educational materials, although it's clear they put effort into them. They didn't have any draconian policies, although they did have thoughtful consideration for virtually everything that *could* go wrong (sickness, absence, accidents, etc). At the end of the day we loved the school because it was one of the only ones where all of the children spoke Spanish to each other while playing. After we joined we realized how much care and effort the teachers put into all of the students. Our daughter was visibly happy going to school every day, had inside jokes with the teachers and other kids, and came home with elaborately braided hair. There's no greater gift than knowing you're sending your child somewhere that provides them with so much love. I'd recommend PP to anyone looking for early education for their kids, and they'll learn to speak excellent Spanish to boot.

We enrolled our son at Primeros Pasos and it was his first daycare/preschool experience. We (okay,…read moreI) was really nervous about finding the right place, but after just a short time, it felt like we had been with them for so much longer than we actually had. And it's because of the incredible warmth of this community. The maestras create such a welcoming and nurturing space! They strike a wonderful balance: a thoughtful, engaging curriculum that fosters real development, paired with heart-centered care. In particular, it has been absolutely incredible to watch his Spanish flourish while seeing his English expand in parallel. Watching him grow and learn has been such a joy. We are so grateful for everything they have done. If you are looking for a nurturing, high-quality environment for your little one, we can't recommend Primeros Pasos highly enough!

I love this place!!! Been bringin my son here for 4 years. Danette goes above and beyond any child…read moredaycare that I have ever experienced. On occasions where I had to work nights, she was able to work with me and do overnights with my son. If you are looking for a excellent, safe and clean place where your child will be treated fairly and like family. Grandma's Den is DEFINITELY the place to go!!! I can't say enough about how much she has helped me. Call Ms. Danette Trusso and schedule yourself a meet and greet TODAY if u are in need of somebody to watch over and educate your child!!

I can't say enough about the quality of care and education at HolaKids. Our toddler-turned-kid has…read moreflourished here in his language and educational enrichment. You won't find a better place to entrust for the care and growth of your kid, regardless of your home language. These kids are so prepared for the next level of their journey thanks to HolaKids. The Laurel Hill campus is a gem and fosters a sense of place that belongs to these kids. The teachers are the absolute best and the program is incredibly high-quality in helping the whole child develop. Some examples of what makes HK the best program for our child: * Tight-knit community of active and involved families * The teachers here are basically family members at this point. They love and nurture our child in every way he needs in his social-emotional development as well as his education * The administration is communicative and on top of things * It's just plain fun for the kids. The teachers always engage them in imaginative and strategic ways. They never cease to amaze us with the thought they put into the programming here. * The bonds between these kids is so strong. They are a little family Please consider this place when touring for your child's preK and TK education. You won't regret it.

Our 2 year old son has had an incredible experience at Hola, and we plan to keep him here through…read moreTK. As others have noted, it has incredibly dedicated teachers; a well thought out and creative curriculum; and a warm, welcoming parent community that has been a surprise and blessing. Our son had a Spanish speaking nanny, and it's a bonus that he has been able to continue his Spanish immersion, although plenty of his classmates came in without Spanish as well. We feel lucky we found this gem of a preschool.