For the best learning experience of a new language of Mandarin Chinese come to COCOCS or Contra Costa Chinese School to learn and excel your language skills. read more

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My son has been coming to CoCoCs since Kindergarten and this is year 2 for him. We love the school and the community. It is a non-profit and run by veteran educators and people who are passionate for Chinese/Taiwanese culture. It takes a village to run education and my top reasons for staying at this school are below. 1. The curriculum: It is well thought out and one of the teachers actually designed and wrote the textbooks! I absolutely love it. They also offer Traditional or Simplied textbooks so parents can pick their preference. 2. No affiliation with religious groups: Some Chinese schools in the area are affiliated with Churches or other religions and my family isn't religious. So this school makes the most sense for us. 3. Parental involvement: We love parents here help out, volunteer and chip in to make the school run better. The principal and his wife have dedicated their life to run the school and parents/volunteers help bring the school forward. What is most important to us is my son enjoys learning and can understand Chinese. He has picked up quite a lot and enjoy coming here every Saturday. When I just recently took him home to Taiwan, my parents were impressed with his Chinese and can communicate with him. To me, that is a major plus! read more

This is the second year both my kids attend. The school is a very small tight knit community and all staff here are friendly, take personal pride in their work and making sure this program and students are successful. It's not a place where you drop your kids and go shopping, but you have to volunteer and participate; it could be as simple as being a hall monitor or keeping an eye out in the parking lot to make sure kids are leaving with their parents, or ringing the bell for break time. All parents are encouraged to be engage and participate! They also have an tutoring program which reinforces their learning (the tutors are college kids but they are very friendly and the kids love them). Classes are small (about 20 kids to a class) and there's usually helpers in the class to make sure all students get the attention they deserve Don't be surprise but there are quite a bit of non-chinese speaking and other cultures taking classes. Don't worry about the age or if your kids speak primarily english, their staff are very patience and make the program very fun and entertaining for everyone. The parents take turn providing snacks for the kids and during special occasions, the school will have different cultural and learning activities for the kids. In addition to Chinese language, there's also Choy Lee Fut, Lion Dance, ping pong and other cultural activities your kids can attend. Program runs during school session, every Saturday from 12:00PM to about 4:00PM. read more

I love this school. They do a great job teaching and I'm so amazed how much my kid has learned. I do not speak Chinese but he's picking up words and learning how to write. The school administrators definitely are a dedicated group of individuals. read more

This is our son's second year at Contra Costa Chinese School. It is a great option for parents who want their kids to learn Mandarin Chinese. It is super affordable, organized and operated by all volunteers. The teachers are wonderful. There's a great sense of community. read more

My two kids really enjoy learning from the great teachers here. One move on to completing her 4 semesters of Chinese at DVC. Nothing but good memories from the school and community. read more

My kids have been going to this school for the past 7 years: the elder one finished the 8th grade in 2017 and the younger one is in his 7th grade. Overall, I like this school. The curriculum is solid with course materials coming directly from Taiwan. The teachers are very nice and experienced. The school offers the EP program for kids that want to learn other things after the language class (craft, Chinese painting, Yo-Yo, etc.). What makes this school great is not just a solid academic program, but also it's "community" feeling. Some parents are devoted to supporting the growth of this school through volunteer activities. They put in a lot of hours during and after the school hours so that the school can keep the cost down: web development, outreach, marketing, academic management, registration, fundraising, campus security, etc. are all based on volunteering effort. Through these volunteer activities, the sense of community is born. So if you are looking for a Chinese school in East Bay and would like to help make the school flourish through your volunteering effort, while in the meantime enjoying what a strong academic curriculum can benefit your kid(s), then the Contra Costa Chinese School is a great choice. read more

Very good Chinese Community ! I have found some friends also from my hometown and my kids get to learn Chinese. Teachers all are very enthusiastic about teaching and caring! The first few years are most difficult for kids , once kids has built up the learning habit I see the results. I am so glad we have been keep it as our Saturday learning day! read more

This review is LONG overdue. My kids have been attending Contra Costa Chinese school for 3 years now. As a background we are not Chinese nor do we know how to speak Mandarin. My kids school (EBI) has a Mandarin component and we really wanted our kids to learn a foreign language. I was looking to supplement what they get at their school and I found CCC. They are EXTREMELY affordable and makes learning available for everyone. It runs for the school year every saturday and you get a text book and work book for the cost of tuition. The teachers here really do it for the love of teaching the kids Mandarin. This place is ran well and very organized. They have been around long enough for my college lab partner who grew up in antioch, to let me know he went there too (he is Chinese). My kids enjoy learning here and the teachers and staff again I cannot say this enough, is amazing! I want to give a particular shout out to the 2nd grade teacher Min Lo. My kids spend about 2 year per grade because I dont want them to be overwhelmed with learning so I'd rather they have a good foundation before they move up. Teacher Lo has been ready after hours, she has helped my son do school presentations and she likes the kids to call her to practice their pronunciation. She is fun and patient and all the great things a teacher is. She follows up on their learning even when its outside the classroom. Thank you so much Contra Costa Chinese school and your wonderful teachers (esp. Ms. Lo) for giving access to this type of education! read more

I went here as a kid and am thrilled it is still going strong for my own son to attend! They teach both traditional and simplified and offer Sat AM, Sat PM and even Fri evening classes. They just started allowing a flex schedule so if you miss your regular time, you can go to any other the other ones for your grade that week. You can chose which class is the best fit for your kid, so an 8yr old can be in any kindergarten class if they are a beginner and it seems a fluent 6yr old can likewise go to the 3rd grade class. The reg fee was also really low, it was a no-brainer for us. But the prices do go up after early bird is over and volunteer options are filled. The teachers are dynamic and welcoming of all backgrounds (and not nearly as strict as when I attended!!) There are a lot of mixed kids and even some kids that have no Chinese ancestry. The afternoon offers Enrichment Program classes like brush painting, performance arts, and Chinese yo-yo. Some of the kids make it to regionals beating out the kids from South Bay (including Cupertino, Saratoga and Fremont)!! Open house this year is April 21st, 10:30-noon, and then 1-3:30pm. If you are consuming any 2nd language program for your kid/kids, I highly recommend checking it out! read more

Our daughter had a great experience at the kindergarten class. Our teacher Judy Chen Laoshi was very patient, organized and effective, even despite the new switch to virtual classes via zoom. Class size was small, and all children got good teacher attention. Teacher kept these young kids engaged over the computer screen. We have no mandarin-knowledgeable people in our household, yet our child was nonetheless exposed to and able to learn a lot. Reasonably priced excellent cultural education. read more

I highly recommend this School for your kids to learn Chinese, either Simplified or Traditional characters. The teachers are very committed and excellent, and most importantly, they love kids. The administration is all voluntary, parents of present and former pupils. Only the teachers are paid, hence the low annual fees. After class, students may take extracurricular activities, e.g. martial arts, Chinese yo-yo, calligraphy, water color painting, brush ink painting, game of go, dancing, ribbon dance, etc. Often, Chinese traditions are presented so kids may learn about Chinese culture, such as Moon cake festival, Chinese Nee Year celebrations, Spring festival, etc. Learning Chinese is not just for Chinese people but students of all races attend this school. Their parents value their kids learning Chinese in light of future commerce and travel exchanges with China. The classes are taught at Diablo Valley College. The school has existed for over 40 years and continues to thrive with parental support while kids receive an excellent education. Check it out at www.cococs.org and come for the Open House this April 21, 2018. read more

Both my kids have studied here for several years. It's a great place to introduce your kids about Chinese culture, language and arts. It was tough to get my kids to go to Saturday class, but they now appreciate our efforts to give them a good foundation at learning Mandarin Chinese. read more

Just beware of the procedure of the refund. They sent you an email and made a mistake of the amount of the tuition - $100 less than the tuition they originally charged you. Later on, after the refund is done, you looked it up and found out there's a discrepancy. You emailed them again, they didn't admit the mistake and simply told you the refund is " based on memorandum of understanding". The thumb rule is you refund what you charged for. When you made mistake, admit it fix it. It's a scam! read more

I am glad to introduce Contra Costa Chinese school for your kids. My son has been there attending their classes from first-grade to eight-grade. my son went to Taiwan and my family were very happy that he speaks mandarin very fluently. read more

Contra Costa Chinese School has been incredible in helping me instill my Chinese heritage to my children. We live in American Canyon (South Napa County), where there is not a large Chinese population and although my husband is Chinese, he doesn't speak any Chinese. This is one of the closest Chinese schools to us and offers Mandarin Chinese and cultural activities (both as year-long enrichment classes and festival-related activities) for kids on Saturdays. The teachers are fantastic and really engage the kids in learning and using Mandarin Chinese. My 8 year old started 4 years ago as a kindergartener and he is currently in Chinese 3rd grade. He loves that he knows the language of his heritage and has been able to speak to relatives from abroad. My 5 year old preschooler saw that his brother likes the school and last year asked to go as well. Originally, we thought that he was too young for the kindergarten class but the school was very accommodating in allowing him to attend. And more importantly, his Chinese kindergarten teacher (Tsai Lao Shi) is so engaging that he is focused and participating the ENTIRE time in class EVERY Saturday! For anyone who has spent time with preschoolers, you know how difficult it is to keep preschoolers on task for long periods of time, let alone repeatedly. My preschooler always tells us that Saturday Chinese school is his favorite class! If you are looking for a high-quality Mandarin Chinese school, look no further than the Contra Costa Chinese School! read more

My daughter has been in this school for over a year and we love it. I am a non-Mandarin speaking parent and was worried that she would fall behind in schoolwork because of my inability to understand. However, the teachers are so engaged in her learning and are available by phone and email for tutoring. She has learned so much in one year. She is also taking a Chinese yoyo class and spends hours practicing the yoyo weekly (not because she has to but because she WANTS to). It is one of her favorite activities. read more

Both of my kids attend this Chinese school. They are learning and having fun. The classes are only two hours on Saturday with extension classes for art, kungfu and a variety of other activities. The school has parking lot and school security, snack bar and an administration office. If you find yourself being interested, please stop by on Saturday during the school year. Please check the website for the current date of classes and other information: http://www.cococs.org/site/ read more

My two children have been attending this non-profit school for the last 7 years. It is a wonderful way for them ( who did not know how to speak / read/ write Chinese when they first started) to learn Mandarin in a classroom environment. Their teachers were very dedicated to making learning the language a fun and rewarding experience. read more

My kids have been attending this school for more than 4 years, and they love the teachers, dynamic environment (different school-wide activities related to Chinese culture) and programs offered throughout the year (the school has a selection of enrichment programs after the language classes). read more

This is more than a school, it is a community for people of all ages and backgrounds who want to learn Chinese language and culture.

My daughter started kindergarten this year on Saturday mornings from 10-12. My goal was to expose her to the language and I'm surprised by her ability retain what she learns. She really enjoys going and looks forward to it every Saturday. She has 1 -2 pages of homework every week to review what she has learned. Other parents seem to be pretty active. There is a shutterfly group for sharing information, messages, pictures, homework among parents. I've learned that the school has been around for 37 years and there is a K-12 curriculum as well as conversation classes. It's a nice hidden secret of Contra Costa County. read more

This is my first Yelp posting. For this special school and dedicated teachers and volunteers there. I am not a Chinese tiger mother, but my daughter got to learn Chinese. We had a failed experience to send her to a Chinese school when she was four: the teacher spanked her on the hand palm with a bamboo stick whenever I drove her there late. This made her dislike anything to do with Chinese. A family friend recommended this school but it was too far from us. When my daughter was in six grade, we moved to the area. My daughter was reluctant to go to the school, but we persuaded her with the Chinese painting class in their enrichment program, since she loves to paint. The first day was a drama: my daughter didn't want to sit in either the kindergartner classroom or the adult conversation class, which fit her Chinese level. But after the Chinese painting class, she said she could endure the language class. She endured it for three years--one year in the adult class, one in the 3rd grade, and one in the 4th grade. However, she stayed in the same Chinese painting class for all three years. She enjoys doing Chinese painting demos at FCC events, in schools and libraries. Now, she takes Chinese in her high school. My husband took two years of Chinese in the adult class. Now, I am looking for my son to go in two years. Even though no family members take a class now at the school, I volunteer there, since I really appreciate its service--a wonderful cultural opportunity in our community backyard. read more

My daughter has been coming here for four year. The school is great. All the teachers here are so dedicated. I can't ask for a better Chinese school. read more

My 4/5 year old daughter is attending their kindergarten class for the first time. After a bit of a bad start with a teacher who did not have the classroom management my daughter needed, we were able to switch to a different kindergarten teacher who did. My daughter is smart but distractable, and my expectations, especially after the bad start were low. I thought that maybe she would learn a few words this first year and be able to understand much of what was being said to her. HOWEVER yesterday as I was helping her with her homework, she was able to read and recognize most of the symbols/words in her homework! I was very impressed! The school tries very hard to create a community with lots of fun extra activities for the parents and kids, they even have wifi for the parents so you can get some work done while you wait (if you wait here). We are also the whitest people around, and I felt a little nervous at first, but we have been very much welcomed here :) I would definitely recommend this school, though they keep adding on extra fees to the original stated price. Still waaaay worth it. Start as young as you can - they learn easier and faster the younger they are. read more

I am glad that we have found Contra Costa Chinese School. My 7yo daughter has been attending this Saturday program for the last 2.5y starting with Kindergarten. We attend the morning session. There's also an afternoon session. The teachers are enthusiastic and care about the students' exposure and learning to Chinese language and culture. There's a sense of community among school admin and families, knowing that our kids are all making a great effort to learn a second language. We have made many new friends in the past 2.5 years. The curriculum is accessible and the teachers try really hard to make learning fun and easy to digest for the kids. There is a structured curriculum supported by textbooks and workbooks that provide a level of rigor that ensures academic advancement. Inspite hard work and reluctance, my daughter has learned how to speak and write and understand spoken Mandarin. I am very happy that we have found this school. We used to live near the school but now make the drive from Albany because the education has been worth my effort. I look forward to enrolling my younger child in K next semester. Thank you to all her wonderful teachers!! read more

This Chinese school is very family oriented. The first time I signed up my two kids to attend this school, I feel all of the volunteers working at the administration office, snack shop are so friendly like a family. This school not only offer Chinese curriculum for traditional and simplified writing choices but also offer Chinese enrichment programs such as Abacus, Chinese paintings, Chinese folk dance, calligraphy, Chinese martial arts and the most popular of all is Chinese Yo-Yo. School also have Spring festival to give students a chance to perform on the stage and also have contest for Chinese singings, reading aloud, Chinese composition, Chinese brush drawing....etc. This is a busy and fun Chinese school to be at. Come to find out more !!! www.cococs.org read more

I attended this school decades ago and now send my two young children there. It is the best option there is here in the Walnut Creek area. Fluency in the Chinese language is important to our family. The school offers a solid language curriculum and optional cultural classes. The Chinese painting teacher is awesome. read more

I found out about this school a year ago. The school has been around for over 30 years. The programs are run out of Diablo Valley College. They try hard to accommodate the needs of a very diverse student population. The tuition is very reasonable and the after school enrichment programs makes learning chinese more fun. read more

Not the greatest. I was a student for seven years, and I can confidently say that the Chinese has not stuck for me. Many of the teachers are nice, but I did not learn anything from anyone of them. My biggest gripe is the fact that classes happen only on Saturdays. How are you supposed to learn a language when you only have classes once a week? I quit Chinese school two years ago, but some of my friends are still enrolled and they told me that they are not learning anything at all. Each year's "tuition" isn't all that bad, but seven years worth of useless classes adds up to a pretty hefty amount. Chinese school is a great idea, but not executed well. read more

I attended CCCS from kindergarten through high school. It was very helpful in practicing Mandarin Chinese in a very supportive and educational environment with my peers. The courses and textbooks were structured well and moved at a reasonable pace. The classes are not overflowing so there is a lot of interaction with the teacher and teachers are often very willing to help out additionally if students have more questions regarding the grammar, vocabulary or anything else regarding the class. In addition to simply learning vocabulary and syntactical structure of Chinese, a lot of traditions, holidays, and events that are an integral part of Chinese culture are also integrated into the course, providing a history and understanding of the customs and traditions of Chinese culture. This is further built upon in the wide variety of enrichment programs that are also offered after the general class. Each class is 2 hours a week with the enrichment programs an additional hour after class. A large number of cultural courses are available; I took calligraphy, martial arts, chinese culture and abacus throughout the years that I was at CCCS. Many of the staff or volunteers are parents of current or former students creating a very close-knit environment at CCCS that is also very welcoming of new students too. I learned a lot from attending CCCS and provided a solid foundation for writing, reading, and speaking Chinese as well as learning about Chinese culture. read more