As a former student of CalCC, I want to write a review on how the language skills I learned from…read morethe school had helped me a lot in getting admission into MBA program at CSU East Bay. Just like many other ESL institutions, basically you will learn English. However, what makes the school different from others is the effectiveness of the program. All the grammar, listening and reading skills, and writing techniques are practical, easy to learn and sufficient for you to use daily and academically. You might doubt it at first, but believe me, after just about 1 year of studying at the school, I was able to get TOEFL score of 90 at my first try. A score of 80 is a standard for a master degree. It could reach 100 at some highly competitive universities. But I want to emphasize the importance of your self-practice also. You need to use it in some way even though there is no homework or an assignment. Your self-practice is important for you not to forget what you have learned. Another special thing about the school is the devotion that all instructors have to their students. They are willing to help you as long as you need their assistance. You can ask them to write recommendation letters, or ask them about other tests that you cannot study at CalCC. I studied GRE myself at the same time I took English classes at CalCC. I can say that all the help from knowledgeable instructors had helped me get high enough score on GRE examination to get admission into my MBA. Obviously, the program itself and the constant assistance from instructors provide you more than enough English competency to survive and succeed in higher education environment. Last, the school offers affordability and friendly environment. Tuition is relatively competitive I can say. The class is friendly and interactive. There is a kitchen for you to cook occasionally, but you will need dean's permission for it. Frequent field trips give you chance to interact with classmates and other people, help you to review what you learned, and relax your mind with some enjoyable food. All in all, this will be a right place for those who are looking for an ESL institution where they can learn, practice, interact, and even enjoy.

Calcc is a really good language school option..Especially if you want to transfer after one year…read moreand go to college or university..I'm very happy to have stayed here for one year..And I met a lot of amazing people here..The stuff is amazing and always available to help us

My daughters went here for K-1 and 1-2 at the Campbell and Hamilton campuses. They were both in…read morethe mandarin immersion program and I was pleasantly surprised on how much they learned both reading and writing in Chinese. By the end of their first year, they ere able to easily read short books in Chinese, and write short messages (like thank you cards) all in Chinese. We don't speak mandarin fluently at home but we're still able to somewhat help with homework. Their math program is also very advanced, and now that my kids are set to go to public school, I'm confident Springbridge is at least a year ahead in their math program. The teachers in both K and 1st grade (and 2nd grade, where my oldest attended) are all very caring, attentive, and communicate well with the parents, which was appreciated. They worked with us to figure out ways our kids could grasp concepts they had trouble learning. Their detailed reports for parent teacher conference showed they were deeply involved and interested in my children's education. In addition, the community and camaraderie of the parents and teachers is another factor in why we loved the school.

Springbridge International School is a place where my two children are receiving a high-quality,…read morebilingual education. They have been at Springbridge since 2016 and both love the school. The school curriculum in is offered in English, Japanese, and Mandarin, and is delivered in such a way where students learn meaningful lessons, in two languages, that stress academic, cultural, and personal development. The faculty are passionate educators who embrace the mission of developing young minds in ways that are interesting and challenging to the students. After some issues with the facilities in the early days (such as locations, size, access to good sunlight), the facilities we have now are now top notch - secure, with good light, plenty of room, and large playground areas for the kids to get out and RUN and play!!! The administration has done a very good job through the COVID pandemic. They were able to rapidly transition to remote learning and despite some minor hiccups (which we all experienced at first) the learning continued - with the added benefit of my wife and I having the opportunity to see and hear what and how our girls were learning. It was at this point we truly understood and appreciated that our hard-earned dollars were being spent wisely and to great affect. Last year when the school reopened for in-person learning, the protocols set in place were adequately strict and strictly enforced. Classes were held outdoors and the kids were maintained in cohorts to minimize the risks of any widespread exposures. The use of masks was mandatory without exception even when on spacious playgrounds. The rules were/are clear and uniform for all grades. With the recent surge in Omicron, we are voluntarily back to distance learning until the surge passes. As parents we are responsible for providing our kids with every opportunity we are able to provide. My wife and I are not rich. We're working class people from working class families. Financially we'd be far better off if our kids went to public schools and in our area of San Jose there are some well-rated schools. While we toil away and struggle at times, we know we are doing what is best for our kid's future. They are both bilingual, in touch with their Japanese and American cultures, and are receiving advanced level education from this fine private school. Added Note: When I use Yelp I usually look at the most recent reviews...but always find myself drifting toward reading the negative reviews too. I did that for Springbridge as well. There are a couple of negative reviews and I think I know one of them. Everyone has a different experience and that's fine. Not every student and not every family will have the same opinion, nor will they have the same experience if there is a misalignment in key areas like respecting the rules, embracing the mission, or you or your child having a disagreeable outlook or personality. This school is a community and your child and my children are not special, they're members of a tight knit community where learning is the priority, delivered by trained and caring people, in clean and secure facilities.

I've been wanting to learn ASL but wasn't sure where I could go to take classes. I found out about…read moreSan Jose Learning Center and signed up for ASL 1 with Alexa. I originally wanted to take the class in-person, but due to my own schedule, decided to enroll in the online one. I was a bit unsure how much I'd be able to learn through an online course (as I usually prefer in-person classes), but I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the class and learned a lot from Alexa! I appreciate SJLC's wide variety of language offerings and flexibility with online, hybrid, and in-person classes. I'm looking forward to taking more classes!

I finished my Japanese 2 here. Teacher Sai is very nice and professional. Really recommend this to…read moreanyone interested in learning Japanese!

I have been taking private Spanish classes from Vive La Experiencia for over a year now. I had…read morebeen searching and searching for a "serious" school for adult learners of Spanish as a second language that would also accommodate my tight work schedule and commute. This school is a hidden gem in Campbell. They bent over backwards to accommodate my schedule, offering me Saturday afternoon classes, and I have been extremely impressed by the professional level of instruction I have received by all the instructors. Before studying here, I had tried to learn Spanish at several other community schools for adults. I was constantly disappointed that the instruction was too relaxed at the other schools, there was barely any homework or progress exams, and most of the other students did not end up progressing past the beginning level. When I started studying at Vive La Experiencia, I could speak mostly only in the present tense, and had just started to learn the imperfect and preterit. Now I am fairly comfortable with the past, future, compound tenses such as present/past perfect, passive voice, and I am in the midst of further practicing the subjunctive, including imperfect and past subjunctive. My grammar, speaking, and comprehension have grown by leaps and bounds. Moreover, they tailor the instruction to your preferences. I wanted a lot of homework and progress exams, as well as emphasis on covering grammar, so I got it. Of course, all students are different and your class could be very different, depending on your preferences. During class, we also spend time listening to and translating popular and classic Latin American music, watching and discussing video/movie clips, and learning about cultural traditions such as holidays in Mexico and Latin America. I have had the opportunity to participate in several hosted social events where I was able to meet many native Spanish speakers, as well as other learners like myself. Of course, the highlight was my participation in the Immersion Trip to Puebla, Mexico in July of 2019. It was my first time ever visiting Mexico, and I was absolutely in love with the the city, the people, and the FOOD! I heard Spanish spoken everywhere and was astounded by how much I could already understand and communicate with the locals. We visited many churches, parks, historical sites, markets, and the best restaurants. It was great getting to bond with other students like myself. If you are looking to learn Spanish at any age (I am 44), I highly recommend classes at Vive La Experiencia. Your eyes will be opened to a whole new world of culture and experiences!

I've been taking Spanish classes here for about three years. Before that I was trying to learn…read moreSpanish In adult schools. Even though they are a bit cheaper I was getting frustrated by the large classes (often up to 15 people). It's hard to progress in these big groups, especially if you want to get further than beginner level. Rosario and her team are doing a great job teaching the language in small to medium sized classes (3-6 students) and are trying to make sure that students get the most out of the class. You can also get private tutoring. Levels range from beginner to advanced. I like that it's not only about grammar, but also about the culture which is important to understand some aspects of the language. Hopefully I'll be able to become bilingual one day, it's still a long way, but I feel this school is my best chance to get there some day.

I've been working with Gina for nearly a year and a half, and she has been an excellent teacher…read morethroughout. As an adult learning Spanish as a second language, the process has been both challenging and humbling, but with Gina's help I've made meaningful progress. She is incredibly patient and takes the time to explain concepts in different ways until they truly make sense. She never rushes through the material and does a great job pacing lessons so they feel productive without being overwhelming. I always feel supported in the learning process. I highly recommend Gina to anyone looking for a thoughtful and effective Spanish teacher.

Very cordial and responsive to emails. Has a wide variety of offerings such as after-school…read moreprograms and tutoring services, private classes. Thank you Gina, for the easy correspondence.

Language Connection makes learning a second language interesting and fun. It's not a typical…read moreprogram as there is not a class or lesson with definite start or stop date (like a class at the university). You can 'roll into' an ongoing group lesson or take individual lessons. The instructions are pretty reasonably priced and they offer you a lot of different language options. I took private French lessons prior to traveling to France and found the instruction very useful for my trip. I would gladly take lessons in the future when traveling abroad ( I think they teach Spanish, German, Chinese, etc). I also enjoyed that the speakers where 'native' speakers and gave useful information about the culture in addition to the lessons. Overall, I would recommend that you check them out.

I highly recommend the Language Connection and Sophie Fritz, if you would like a fun environment,…read morewhere you learn French from a native speaker. I have had several teachers and have enjoyed previous French lessons, but I must say that Sophie makes the class especially enjoyable and one learns a lot. The classes contain a variety of subjects and methods of teaching. This keeps them quite interesting! There is a mixture of conversation, vocabulary, grammar, listening to French movies and written exercises. She explains things well and never makes you feel stupid! Sophie tailors her class for working people, as well as folks with more time to study. I don't hesitate to recommend her classes, for those wanting to learn to speak French.

Wow, where do I start! Alejandra, did such an amazing job-- super friendly and welcoming. She broke…read moredown the curriculum in such an understanding manner. I feel like a natural idk why I waited so long to sign up! Thank you so much!!

From the owner: The Bridge is a language school originally from Madrid, with 8 years of experience helping…read morecustomers achieve their personal and professional goals through language. Our courses are faster, more efficient, and with a human approach that will make you speak from the first class. Have fun while you learn and become part of an amazing internacional community!

I highly recommend Transcultural Promotions Spanish Classes. What really worked for me was the nice…read moresmall spanish class size. Usually the class sizes seemed to be around 6 - 12 people. I found the teaching technique to be quite unique and fun. I loved all the little perks too! Mexican bread on special occassions and fieldtrip events. I love the fact that I have completed several courses and I still get invited to special cultural events, spanish plays etc... Very dedicated teachers!

First: if you have a chance to work with Paul, you'll never regret a minute of your experience…read more He's a great teacher and excellent photographer. Second: smartphones have ruined photography, and it's getting increasingly more difficult to find gear, accessories, peripherals... but San Jose Camera has always had what I've looked for (except my fav Canon lens, no longer manufactured). The people here are consummate professionals, exceptionally well-versed and experienced photographers. They know their stuff: I've had questions about Canon, Minolta, Nikon, and Hasselblad cameras and they knew the answer without looking it up. (Price of gear is the only exception.) Sort of an old-school type, I still dabble in film photography, especially in astrophotography, and they've had excellent recommendations for what I'm looking for in film, even discussed some ideas I hadn't considered. I used to spend a few hours a week here... purchased a number of lenses here and taken a number of classes. My highest recommendation for these classes: I learned so much in these... as good as any you'll find professionally.

I'm not sure why the negative reviews. I've been going here buying and renting gear from San Jose…read moreCamera for years. I've probably dealt with all of the staff over the years and have always had a positive experience. It's so nice to be able to actually look at and touch the gear I'm shopping for. The sales people aren't pushy, but are knowledgeable and able to answer questions.