We have been taking lessons there with Dario, For a year…read morenow. Molto buono! Fun to go out for lunch, drinks afterwards in North Beach

It's a wonderful place to learn and study Italian while also being immersed in beautiful Italy's…read moreculture. Classes are offered online or in person by native speakers who sincerely want you to learn the language and are there to help you improve. The textbooks, workbooks, and grammar books move along at a good pace and there is plenty of review as homework assignments are the first item to discuss and go over as each class begins. You'll improve quicker if you take a little time each day to read, listen, or review on your own. We were encouraged to read a few optional books at our level and it was a wonderful way to see that understanding was indeed taking place. We're also lucky these days to have a plethora of free, additional resources available to use via YouTube, DuoLingo etc. Be fearless. Jump in. Learn vocabulary. Study hard. Enjoy the process!

In a word: Clarity…read more Here the instruction disambiguates and formalizes a language which is generally thought to be overly complex. The basic instruction is Modern Standard Arabic but if you stick with it, you can start taking dialect classes. Jamal, the owner of the school, is a great instructor with his own methods to say the least; he's quite casual, matter of fact, and very entertaining if you dig this style of instruction (which I do). Nasser and Jayme teach a more conventional structured class if thats what you might prefer as well. All the instructors are quite rigorous and the curriculum is top notch. The classes are pretty small and the instruction is very generous (you can drop in on classes you already took if you are currently enrolled as a student). If you're not currently enrolled, email them ahead of time if you want to drop in on a class to check it out; don't just show up, the school is quite busy and no teacher likes surprises right when class starts.

Jamal might be a good teacher but he was a total dick when I tried signing up for a class…read more First of all, I was totally excited about this place after reading the yelp reviews and checked the online course catalogue. This was back in November and they hadn't updated it to include any upcoming classes. So I went away for the holidays, came back and checked again. Classes had already started a week before (even though the deadlines had apparently passed before the classes were even listed on the website). In fact, the second class, and the only one I could fit into my schedule was that night. So I figured it would make more sense to talk to the instructor about sitting in on the second class than miss both of them. I've taken arabic before and this would have been a refresher course, so missing the first 90 minutes shouldn't have been a big deal. Besides, I was prepared to suck up the extra $30 late fee for somehow not knowing that I should have registered before the class was even listed in the catalogue. I showed up there a half an hour early because I don't want to cut into other people's class time by talking to the instructor. I looked around for someone to talk to about registering, but couldn't find anyone (or even some kind of front desk type person who might be able to help). So I found the classroom, but Jamal was starting the class late and both times I try to get his attention before it started he shoed me away and directed me to the classroom. So I sat there awkwardly, with about 20 other people who all have their books out wondering how the f**k they knew about a class that wasn't listed anywhere and hoping I can get 20 seconds to explain that I'd like to join. After all, I've never encountered a good instructor who isn't just so happy that you are taking an interest in their subject that they won't let you join a class (especially with a check in your hand). Instead, he starts the class, looks around and then I get a "wait who are you?" and I start to say "I dropped by hoping I could..." and then he got kind of bitchy with me and told me that I couldn't just show up the second day of class and expect it to be okay. Then I couldn't get any kind of explanation in edgewise as he made me look like a jerk in front of 20 strangers (who all apparently share the gift of telepathy because they knew when the first class was), so I just said thanks and left. So yes, thanks Jamal, for saving me $300. I'll take it elsewhere.

Our rising first grader spent five weeks of summer camp at EFBA. He attends a French immersion…read moreschool during the year but we are not French speakers at home and want to ensure that he continues to build his bilingualism during the break. EFBA did not disappoint! The teachers were wonderful (special shout outs to Nary and Romain) and the administration was organized and communicative. EFBA has earned a permanent spot on our radar for quality French-based education, care, and fun!

My kindergartner just completed her first year at the Hillcrest after-school program in Oakland and…read morehad a great experience. She had been in French immersion preschool; when we moved her to regular public school I worried that she would lose that foundation, but EFBA has assuaged those concerns! She is clearly gaining confidence in speaking and even initiates conversations with me in French--something that she refused to do while in preschool even though she clearly understood everything. Looking forward to next year--the kids in the next level had really impressive levels of French if the end-of-year performance is any indication. Merci, EFBA!

If you're interested in a preschool that combines French-immersion with nature school, I…read morewholeheartedly recommend Les Petits Canards (http://lespetitscanards.com), which is right by the Golden Gate park and has immediate availability. It's currently Monday to Thursday 8:30 to 5 pm. My daughter attended from January to July 2021 (sadly we moved out of SF, so couldn't attend longer). I'm totally blown away by how quickly she started speaking to me in French (within two or three months) and how far along she got in that precious time. We visited family in Montreal this summer and she could maintain entire conversations en français! The daycare is run by Fabienne Saurel (fabsaurel@hotmail.com), who is a wonderful teacher and caregiver. Her COVID precautions were/are excellent. The kids wear masks indoors, where there are also several air filters and ventilation. They often eat lunch picnic-style in the GG park and go on all sorts of adventures. Every month, there's a theme and the kids learn all about things such as butterflies, unicorns, the oceans. Fabienne invited a ceramicist to help the kids make and paint butterflies (see pics attached) as well as housing some caterpillars that the kids got to watch transform and grow wings. She had a clown/face painter come in for the unicorn theme and give the kids beautiful unicorn faces. The kids also made us parents the most touching presents for mothers' and fathers' day. My daughter loved the food that Lorraine (one of the caregivers) makes fresh everyday. It's French, so there's no compromising on the quality of food. They would even have special holiday themed foods, like Chinese New Year dinner, galette des rois, and other foods tailored to the holidays. The kids also got to help make the cake whenever there was a birthday, which was obviously the best! On their last day of school before summer holidays, they got to go out for dinner at the local diner, which was a special treat. We joined at the height of COVID, so the usual curriculum was modified and there weren't any trips on the bus, but as the vaccination rates went up, the kids got to resume their field trips. Fabienne takes them on the MUNI, which they love, to the Boulangerie in Hayes Valley, to Ocean Beach, to the Academy of Sciences, to different new parks around the city and to visit all sorts of cool locations, which compliment the theme of the month. Merci Fabienne! We miss you! (Please note I photoshopped sunglasses onto some of the pics attached to protect children's identity.)

Can't say enough nice things about LPC! Fabienne and her team have created a wonderful community…read moreand I love sending our 3.5 year old off to school knowing she will have a day full of French immersion, good food, creative crafts, and outdoor play. My husband is French but my French language skills are limited, so I really appreciate how much LPC has helped my daughter connect with the French side of her heritage. She now comes home correcting my pronunciation and teaching me new nursery rhymes and songs. As COVID protocols have evolved, we've loved how LPC embraces urban adventures by taking the kids on long walks and bus rides to explore new playgrounds, parks, and boulangeries. The kids get an incredible mix of outdoor play, free play, storytime, yoga, dance parties, baking, and arts and crafts that are often seasonally themed. We love getting photo/video updates of the kids having fun together and especially enjoy seeing the custom treats Lorraine helps the kids bake and decorate (the chocolate and rice pudding paella as part of their week studying Spain was particularly impressive!). My daughter has also really developed her handwriting, math, and color/shape recognition skills through all the games they play. My daughter absolutely loves Fabienne and her team, and we are so grateful to be part of such a caring community!

Get HUMANS inside building.More options.The place has one person there,we came down from NorNorCal…read morehoping to meet in person with a language/coordinating counselor & the few days the actual building is open she was not on-site? & no more on site classes???? I'll move to Austria & learn German through TELC faster, no thank you Goethe-the NERVE to use his name as well..-b

Came here to watch a German film "Cherry Blossoms" last night…read more I have always been curious about European culture and enjoy foreign films. I had no idea about the existence of the Goethe Institut until recent. It's actually located in Chinatown next to the dragon gate which is a little surprising. But it's super easy to find. It's a small but cozy space once you get inside. I suppose they host other German cultural events here also. Apparently they have free German movie screenings periodically with a suggested donation of $5 which in my opinion is well worth it. I was worried I would not understand the movie as much because it's in German. But fear not as all movies have English subtitles. There were quite a few attendees in the small movie theater but most were seniors. Maybe I just have an old soul. The film was quite interesting and touching. Despite being a bit more unusual than my taste, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I can deff see myself returning for another movie in the future. And this reminds me why I love a city like San Francisco where I can explore and enjoy so many different cultures.

Not the greatest french teacher, despite nice reviews when teaching at our high school, most…read morestudents didnt like her as she favorited others. this caused lots of students to leave her class. This made it hard to pass the class and not make me wanna take her french class sadly hers was the only option. She's not that flexible, and sometimes she's picky and choosy at times she would grade work. At times she likes to help, given my experience. Overall, better communication consistency in emailing and a more professional engaging attitude would be greatly improve the class atmosphere and experience.

Used the services for college level French 3 & 4. The services were provided via Zoom, and were…read moreVERY helpful. I am continuing to use the service now, as I take even more advanced course work in French at the college level. The group is professional and trustworthy. Highly recommended!

I had the incredible opportunity to study at TransWorld Schools in downtown San Francisco, and I…read morecan confidently say it was one of the best decisions I've made. The school offers an exceptional English program that not only improves your language skills but also gives you an enriching cultural experience.The director is amazing--supportive, professional, and always ensuring that every student feels welcome and encouraged to succeed. The teachers here are patient, highly skilled, and truly passionate about helping students achieve their goals. They go above and beyond to make learning interactive and enjoyable. The students at TransWorld Schools are a diverse, friendly, and motivated group. It's an environment where you build meaningful friendships and learn about cultures from all over the world. The school also hosts wonderful events and activities--from cultural celebrations to group outings--that help you practice your English in real-life settings while having fun. These moments made my experience even more unforgettable.If you're looking for a place to improve your English in a welcoming, professional, and inspiring environment, TransWorld Schools is the perfect choice. I can't recommend enough !!

As an immigrant, having a principal who showed empathy and truly cared meant everything to me. I am…read morebeyond grateful for her support. She helped me change my status at no cost, while lawyers normally charge for the same service. When I was sick and provided proof, she didn't charge me for two months. She listened to me when I needed someone to talk to and always gave thoughtful advice. She was patient and understanding during times when I struggled financially. I have been at this school for 3 years, and I can honestly say that anyone who gave a 1-star review most likely didn't attend classes, failed to pay, and expected not to face consequences. That is not a reflection of the school or its leadership. Teacher Marc is truly exceptional. He not only taught us English, but also introduced us to American culture and helped us understand life in the U.S. in a meaningful way. If you're an immigrant and want to learn English, this is genuinely one of the best places to do it. I learned so much here, and this school truly supported my journey toward the American dream.

I took the 4 weeks Mandarin crash course. It moved very fast and I had to study everyday in order…read moreto keep up with the material. I recommend learning to just speak it first (connecting the sound to the meaning) rather than worry too much about the characters (connecting the image to the meaning) - I spent too much time trying to figure out a system to do both at the same time. Our instructor (Jane) was very nice and was specifically trained to teach Mandarin to English speakers. I highly recommend her.

好学校！I completed the 4 week crash course and would highly recommend it to anyone who's ever been…read morecurious about learning Mandarin. I've tried using apps like HelloChinese, ChineseSkill, and others on my own for years, but without much progress - This course gave me the foundation, pronunciation, and confidence I needed to kick up my self-study to the next level. You get out of it what you put into it - it's a 4 hour class each week, with ~2 hours of homework each week at a minimum, but your vocabulary expands very quickly as does your grasp on grammar, character structure, etc.. I'll definitely be pursuing the next level courses with CLA. Wang Laoshi (王老师) was a great teacher and I would definitely recommend getting in her class! If you're still on the fence, don't be - just jump right in. You won't regret it.