I've been coming here for a while, starting with very little French background. I see that some…read morehere felt like they were moved up a bit too fast. Honestly I don't see that happening, there are so many opportunities to review, from conversation to boot camps. The teachers are so supportive. I also take advantage of all the social nights and work shops. I've met a lot of really good people here!!

took Coucou's online placement test and was placed into an intermediate-level class. Unfortunately,…read morethe placement was not accurate. There was no real evaluation, just an online quiz, and when I arrived in the class, I quickly realized after a few sessions that it didn't match my needs at all. The class was pure conversation with no grammar explanations, no structure, and no rules, which made me feel completely lost. I actually needed more grammar-focused support, not just conversation. When I tried to switch levels, I wasn't offered a proper solution. Instead, I was only given about 70% credit for my remaining classes, with a two-month expiration. I couldn't use it because I was traveling, and their response time was slow, so the credit essentially became useless. Overall, I was disappointed with how the placement was handled and how inflexible the school was in helping me find the right level. I expected a more supportive and structured experience.

Thank every god in every heaven for Dina Shen!! I found Dina's Fast Learning Chinese from Yelp and…read morewas skeptical that the glowing reviews were for real, but now I'm joining the ranks firsthand!! I'm "good with languages" but had zero experience with Mandarin other than a general fascination, and admit to being a little daunted by what I perceived as an almost impossible task: learning Mandarin without any prior experience or opportunity for immersion. Dina takes this daunting situation and makes it approachable, understandable and addictive!! She is such a kind and patient teacher. She's incredibly nurturing and supportive, but doesn't just nod and smile and tell you that you're doing great when you're not -- she takes the time and care to gently correct my pronunciation to make sure that I'm mastering the Mandarin tones. As her student, I feel that she genuinely cares about my progress and is personally invested in it. Dina's Level 1 course is all about giving us a foundation to understand how the mechanics of how Mandarin works rather than just having us memorize rote phrases or characters. She teaches us grammatical patterns and explains the nuances of how Mandarin differs from English in a way that turns those differences into assets to learn the new language rather than impediments to it. I've just completed her Level 1 one-on-one tutoring and will definitely be continuing on to Level 2. I work nearby in the area and take my sessions during my lunch break -- I work in a very stressful job and half of the time when I'm heading to my session, I'm anxious about some crazy thing at work and tired, but EVERY TIME, I leave feeling rejuvenated and inspired and excited to continue learning Mandarin. And now, thanks to Dina, I have confidence that I have a decent beginner's foundation in speaking, reading and writing Mandarin and have a brilliant, kind teacher who can help turn that foundation into something even stronger. If you want to learn Mandarin and live near NYC, I can't recommend Dina enough!!

I decided to learn Chinese in preparation for a trip to China for the World Expo, but mostly…read morebecause I'm interested in being able to better understand and work with the most important growth economy in the world. Before the class, everyone I know told me how Mandarin is SOOoOoOOOoo hard and I TOOOOoooOootally shouldn't bother. Whatever, doodz! I, for one, welcome our new ant overlords. Dina Shen is the instructor and progenitor of Fast Learning Chinese, and I love her like I loved my first grade teacher. She's so smart! And pretty! She's one of those rare teachers who clearly LOVES teaching, and she's incredibly professional. But, as a professional, she makes her class--with her own curriculum and CD--fun, clear, engaging, and (like it says on the box) very very fast. You won't have time to doodle in her class. Not only that, but Dina encourages you to come to the first class before you pay so you can decide for yourself whether or not you think you can learn from her. A month in, and I haven't noticed any dropouts (and my friends told me horror stories about packed college Chinese classes with four lonely students left by the time midterms rolled around). There's no machismo to the course. The vibe is welcoming and inclusive. And if you have trouble and need to repeat the course, her repeat fee is something like half the original cost, which I think shows genuine generosity and dedication. She also holds the same class on different days of the week, so if you have to miss class one week, you can make it up on another day. A huge, huge plus. I leave every class inspired and excited to be learning Chinese, and I'm proud to be learning from such a wonderful teacher. I can already show off to my Chinese clients, and while I know I've got a long way to go, it tells me a lot about Dina's class that after a month they already understand me. That's a big deal with a tonal language! I plan to go on to Level II after this one, which was not in my original plan... It's just that much fun. I cannot recommend Fast Learning Chinese highly enough. Go learn something from Dina.

If you want to learn and speak English better than the average American English speaker. You need…read moreto sign up to American English center located at 290 Madison Ave 5th Fl, NY NY 10017.

-This is my third semester with Parliamo Italiano. Parliamo Italiano is a branch of Hunter College…read morethat offers non-articulated Italian classes.However, certification programs are available. I had previously studied Italian in high school and college, so I took a placement exam prior to registering. Giuseppina (Giuse for short) conducted my placement exam. I feel that I was appropriately placed during my first semester since some topics were refreshers for me, while others were much needed lessons and reviews! -The classes are arranged so that you and your classmates follow the same professor throughout the levels. All professors are native Italian speakers who are quick to correct your pronunciation (thankfully!). My professor Rosanna is amazing. She is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to both Italian and English grammar. She can predict the mistakes native English speakers will make in certain grammar structures and explain to the Italian grammar rule before we make the mistake. Rosanna stays on topic when conducting a lesson, but she always interjects little tidbits of helpful information to correct a student that makes an un-related mistake. -The quality of the classes and the lesson formats are amazing. The founder of the program (Franca Lally) created a curriculum that effectively teaches Italian while encouraging conversational practice. The professors strictly adhere to the original curriculum and often include discussions in each of their lessons. The program sends out weekly emails with the following week's lesson for you to print out or view on your device. -Registering with Parliamo Italiano is a pleasant process. Lauren works in the Parliamo Italiano office and has been nothing but a pleasure to work with. She works efficiently and is willing to answer all your questions. -Cons: On occasion, Parliamo Italiano can be disorganized. They are a branch of Hunter College, so some of the classes are held within the Hunter College buildings while others are held at Casa Lally just a few blocks south of Hunter College. There have been about four occasions over the past three semesters in which my professor, classmates and I were left standing a hallway for twenty minutes because our classroom door was locked. My classmates and I have complained to the program each time this has happened. Fortunately, this is the worst complaint I have about the program. Overall, I highly recommend the program! They have an Open House prior to the Fall and Spring semesters, so check it out!

I went to this place to take a certification test. This place is run down and very crowded. The…read morebathroom is like from the 1940s, it is overdue for a major renovation.

New York English Center formerly called as TCS is one of the best schools of New York. I studied…read morefor more than 2 years and my learning experience was great. Teachers are very knowledgeable and they go over and beyond to help with your learning. They give individual attention to students. Moreover, Mr. Robert, DSO of this school is very helpful. He made the whole process of my transfer to another school (to another state) very smooth. If I did not move from NY, I would have loved to continue to go to the same school. I recommended this school to my friends and I would recommend this school to everyone.

Zoni center on Ocean Avenue is the worst language center. They only need you until you pay for your…read morestudies. Don't waste your time and money on them. I don't recommend it.

Good price. Convenient schedule. Friendly teachers. Nice tutorials…read more Good price. Convenient schedule. Friendly teachers. Nice tutorials.

I am taking a Level 1 Group class. My instructor, Brian is engaging, informative, and approachable…read more I love the fact that we aren't allowed to use our voice in class, a PowerPoint and white board is used to break down rules and words, and notes are given in order to practice what was learned in class. Whether you are a complete novice or not, everyone has something to gain from this center. This class is so much fun and I highly recommend it.

It seems almost impossible that there is only one place in NYC (other than LaGuardia, but that's a…read morecollege so that's a different story) that teaches ASL - American Sign Language. I was looking for one on Yelp and there was only 1 review at the time for this place. But then I remembered a conversation with a dear friend years ago when I expressed interest, and it just so happened that he took classes here before and highly recommended it. If you: 1) want to learn something different 2) want to learn how to sign so you can talk about people in front of them without actually talking 3) want to learn about "deaf culture" (all I can say is WOW! It is totally a completely different culture) 4) want to learn ASL but aren't looking to earn credits 5) want to be a better person Then this is for you. Once a week (2.5 hour classes with a 15-min break in between) for 6 weeks per level. If you can't make a class on a certain day, you can ask to make up a class on a different day. *Unless they cancel the class, which actually happened to me... so I lost a class and couldn't get a refund. As for the classes -- they are fun! We make up skits to learn how to sign without speaking and play lots of games. We go around to answer questions and end up getting to know each other. We laugh through the entire class... it's pretty much the most fun you can have in a classroom setting. I can only hope to advance to conversational level one day and be able to communicate fluently and beautifully like everyone here! It truly is a beautiful language. All the teachers are friendly and funny. I almost didn't want to write this review because I wanted to keep this place all to myself!!

Takes a week to get a response, which is like a month in NY time…read more This delayed scheduling other important meetings because I was holding slots open for 3 times I had suggested. I also was taking classes in NY. I got sick and had to return to TX immediately. I was never refunded the difference. Also, when I started I was placed in a class 3 days late which put me behind on the basics and made me behind even though I was able to make them up. Do not start in a class that has already started insist on beginning. There are classes on other websites for $30 an hour. While I appreciate a structured program the convenience and speed of communicating with someone directly is a win.

So far, so good! I am taking Brazil Ahead's Portuguese for Spanish Speakers" class with…read moreinstructor Natacha and learning Brazilian Portuguese faaster than I thought possible, with a patient, well-trained and fun instructor, and in a wonderfully convenient midtown location. Classes start on time and end on time. Will add to this review as my intensive (2 times per week) class progresses.