This place is a gift to anyone that has taken Spanish in school and yet never learned it. After 4…read moreyears of Spanish in high school and not absorbing any of it, I was skeptical that I could be taught. My instructor taught us so much, and broke it down into lessons that made the transition so much easier that I'm not only learning Spanish, but I'm enjoying understanding the how's and the why's of the language. All classes are very small (usually no more than 8) which makes it easy to learn, grow, and laugh with each other. I never felt that I couldn't make a mistake or ask a question. The homework is minimal and doesn't usually take more than an hour a week. (Though it's good to make vocab flash cards as you go and keep practicing). Wonderful teachers, quick responces to emails and phone calls.

I have been attending group spanish classes at Tierra for over 2 years. I started with no spanish…read moreknowledge other than what I learned on Sesame Street as a kid. They are very affordable compared to others, and they have great native speakers for teachers. I have had 3 teachers for different levels, and some others as substitutes. And all their teachers are dynamic and energetic and PATIENT! Especially good for me, because I memorize vocabulary v e r y s l o w l y. The classes are no larger than 8 people so you get really personal attention compared to the universities and colleges. Our class has been studying together for several months and we are now all friends and have attended foreign films together around town and we sometimes bring in snacks for celebrations or special occasions like birthdays etc. I have attended their social celebrations like Day of the Dead and Mexican Independence Day and feel like its a great little community and family at Tierra.

ISP creates joy…read more Happy and educated children is what I see at ISP whenever I'm on campus. The combination of language immersion and IB education (inquiry-based) is amazing. These children come out with a global mindset treating others with respect snd care. We looked at a number of schools in Portland and ISP is the best. Seeing 5th graders graduate fully fluent in Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin is amazing. And hearing stories of ISP graduates in college and beyond who use the skills and language they learned at ISP daily, reaffirms why we believe this is the best school in Portland. Additionally, the location makes school accessible to families living all over Portland. Being centrally located (near public transit, bike paths, highways, etc.) means the students learn about city and have easy access to museums, theater, and more for field trips. An ISP education builds a strong foundation to help the next generations follow their dreams.

Where else in Portland can a monolingual household, like ours, send a child to school at age 3 and,…read morewithin a few years, watch her become fluent in another language? Not only does our daughter speak Spanish fluently like a native speaker, she can write proficiently in both English and Spanish. Our now seven-year-old child has achieved something neither of her parents have managed, which has been a huge confidence booster. Before enrolling her, we were concerned about whether she could succeed in learning a foreign language at such a young age and whether she might fall behind in other subjects. However, our fears were unfounded. She, along with her classmates, quickly picked up Spanish. Additionally, attending a diverse school where Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese are predominantly used has allowed her to appreciate and celebrate different traditions and cultures. If you are looking for true diversity, you will have trouble finding more of it at any other school in the area. Remarkably, she and many of her classmates significantly outperform state averages in reading in English and math as evidenced by standardized test scores, demonstrating that language immersion has not hindered her overall academic progress. The inquiry-based learning process of the school's International Baccalaureate program has fostered her curiosity, creativity, and independent critical thinking. In one of her classes students can volunteer to present "mini-lessons" on topics of interest. Recently, she presented a lesson on DNA, displaying an impressive understanding of a complex subject that I didn't learn about until high school or college. I've also been impressed with the quality of her art classes. Unlike the simple arts and crafts of my childhood, she has learned about art history and various artists. When we visited a Frida Kahlo exhibit, she provided insightful commentary on Kahlo's background and influences. Similarly, she recognized the influence of Vincent Van Gogh in a painting by Edvard Munch, showcasing her knowledge and keen eye for art. The small class sizes not only provides more personalized attention from the teachers, it also fosters a culture of kindness (her class this year had a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, about half of what it is at area public schools). While the school is located in downtown Portland, it's a bit hidden. It's a safe oasis on a quiet dead-end street, easily accessible by bike, streetcar, MAX, bus, and car due to its central location. When we lived in The Pearl District, I could bike my daughter to school on dedicated bike paths for most of the route. If you are looking for a truly differentiated education for your child that will lay a foundation for them to thrive in a shrinking global community & economy I'd encourage you to check out the International School of Portland.

The French Alliance of Portland is really awesome. I took a class here once. It was not very…read moreexpensive and it was taught by a native speaker. It was informal but very good. There were about 7 people in my class. The classes are held in a beautiful building called Kam House on the max line (near Goose Hollow.) They have a great website with a newsletter that tells you about free french movies and french group dinners and other fun events. If you want to learn French I think the French Alliance is the best way to go. Not only will you get a great class--you'll meet a great community of French speaking people.

Had trouble with purchasing my membership online, so I sent out an email and received a prompt…read moreresponse. Ended up calling, all issues were resolved, and had a wonderful/insightful/welcoming conversation! The atmosphere and vibe alone of this AF should be enough to attract any francophile and francophone alike. I also got my membership card in the mail much earlier than expected, thank you!

You get what you pay for. Bodhi Tree's adult languages classes are affordable and scheduled…read moreconveniently for working people. They are not university classes and don't pretend to be. They're not even high school classes. They're "community" classes which attract learners with a very wide variety of abilities, backgrounds, and motivations. The public assumption that being a native speaker of a language somehow qualifies a person to teach that language seems to rule here. Before a scheduled sojourn in a foreign land, I was delighted to find an available class in the language of that land, and cheerfully signed up. I did the homework and attended every session. My teacher was not a credentialed language instructor but this person was generally punctual, knowledgeable and sincere. The textbook was good. My overall disappointing results were not due to any lack of good will on the part of students or teacher. The issue was that because the instructors are not trained in how to handle mixed-level classes, my teacher wasted a great deal of time (my time) in trying to cater to those unprepared (didn't do the homework) or those who have no idea how to learn a language (most Americans). For example, one woman student, in her thirties, leapt up from her seat at least three times during every class to answer voice calls, and texted constantly throughout. Having missed the instruction, she would ask the teacher to repeat the point, which he politely did. Another older man apparently had never studied a language before (perhaps had never studied anything before). He filled the class hour with random questions about basic grammar (what is a noun? what do you mean, noun?) history, and politics -- all of which the teacher politely answered, sometimes at length. Due to the teacher's lack of training in mixed-level classroom management, the pace of instruction was extremely slow and disorderly. In eight weeks I learned very little. I would not go back. Still, with so much variation among individual teachers and the possibility of a better mix of adult students, your mileage may vary. Bodhi tree is the only place in Portland to get formal instruction in Mongolian, for example -- and it's affordable. By all means give it a try, but I'd recommend to keep expectations low.

I actually only had the opportunity to take one class at this center because after someone dropping…read moreout, the class size was too small to continue. I was deeply disappointed, but I thought I would still share my experience. The only thing that really bothered me was how warm the room was. Maybe I just have a high tolerance for things, but I wasn't put off by anything. I was there to learn Cantonese Level 1. The instructor was very kind and friendly, and I hate that I forgot her name. If you're going in there expecting to be taught, then go somewhere else. This is a place to talk about the language, go through dialogue, and familiarize yourself with the way it sounds and how to speak it. But there weren't drills, memorizing or starting with the basics like tones. And that was fine for me because my memory is excellent and I can clearly remember how the instructor says it and I can repeat it. I'm thinking about doing one-on-one tutoring there, but the distance is a little out of my way. These are community classes and I had a good time.

I had studied there for three semesters and it was a great and useful experience. The staff are…read moresuper friendly and all of the teachers are native speakers. They made Portland as a second home for me. I do recommend this school.

From the owner: Study English at the #1 Best Program…read more Columbia School of English is the #1 best English language school in Portland, Oregon. We serve both local immigrant and international students who want to work towards academic and professional success. We are committed to meeting the educational needs of each student while also making their stay with us enjoyable. We offer a variety of courses and student activities in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere for learning. Students are our focus. We are the first accredited English language school by CEA in Portland, Oregon.The Columbia School of English is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) for the period of 10 years and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions

These Guys are simply the Best! I'm from Brazil and actually…read moremy mother studied there. She loved the classes! She learned so much in only two weeks! Her English has definitely improved very much in so little time. They helped us in anything we needed. From printing maps showing us how to go home and buying public transportation tickets, to Blazers games, these guys were always there for us. Also, it's a very cozy school that makes you feel confy even when you thousands of miles away from home!!! Definitely a 5 stars place!!!!

very green and nature-y campus! i cannot imagine myself going here for school at all but i can…read morevibeee ~ lots of dogs and quirky students walking around

I had a deeply frustrating experience with advising and administrative handling at Portland State…read moreUniversity that resulted in serious academic and financial consequences. I clearly requested to enroll in online-only courses and to begin classes on time. However, I was not informed that classes had already started and was advised into at least one in-person course that directly conflicted with my stated needs. As a result of this situation, I lost my scholarship, received failing grades on my transcript for classes I should not have been enrolled in under those conditions, and was placed into healthcare-related enrollment that I did not want or intend to sign up for. When I raised these concerns, the response I received was that advising was "consistent with policy," without addressing the actual outcome or the discrepancy between what I requested and what occurred. I am now being held financially responsible for these charges, with the possibility of them being sent to collections, despite the fact that this situation stemmed from advising that did not align with my clearly stated requirements. From a student perspective, the issue is not whether internal procedures were followed--it is whether the guidance provided leads to accurate enrollment and protects students from avoidable harm. In my case, it did not. I strongly encourage prospective students to independently verify all advising information, especially regarding course format, enrollment timing, and associated obligations, to avoid experiencing similar outcomes.