Unfortunately, I cannot recommend taking classes at the IC. It was a waste of time and money: for the first 90 minutes, we had to listen to each student speaking about their weekend, then we spent 90 minutes to correct homework which was not explained in class. For the last class, we spent 3 hours going over everyone's essay, something the teacher should have done outside the classroom. Good book and very nice students but no lesson plans! read more

I've been taking a Cervantes class in Albuquerque NM. While in class the didn't know a Spanish word and then spent about 1/2 minute in front of class degrading me for using it. She then realized her mistake and before the next class (in private) she told me that the word actually existed. She didn't offer an apology for her behavior or even tell the class. It's really difficult to learn anything in such an environment. read more

The one and only place to go if you want to study Spanish the right way. I highly recommended.

I'm not sure if Instituto Cervantes is the best place in New York City to learn Spanish, but it is definitely one of the best. I started two years ago as a complete beginner, with no prior knowledge of Spanish, didn't know the alphabets, nothing. Then 2 years later, I speak fluent Spanish. In fact, in August I traveled to Mexico City alone, and stayed airbnb with a Mexican family. When the dad of the family introduced himself to me as "Me, Mónica (the host's name on Airbnb), papá" I knew I wouldn't speak English in this household. I also went on Spanish speaking day trips with Peruvian and Colombian tourists, went to cheer the Mexico City marathon and made friends with fellow Mexican marathoners, and we were planning to run the Rock'n'Roll half marathon together in Mexico City next March. That is how good my Spanish had become. Yes, I'm a good student and I worked hard: I hardly missed any classes and I always do the homework and the required reading; I took a lot of notes and on Friday nights I would study them instead of going out. The classes were expensive at $580 per course, and that's about 30 hours of class time. But it was all worth it, I love my progress and am proud of it. read more

This review is strictly for events, so I can't comment on their language classes (and at the risk of patting myself on the back, I already speak Spanish reasonably well). Anyway; I'd never been there previously, and in fact I wasn't even familiar with the Institute until finding out about last night's event. However, they have many interesting-sounding events (lectures, discussions, exhibits....). Some have free admission and others have (very reasonable) admission charges. Last night's event was the opening reception for an eight-day photo exhibit entitled "Survival in Sarajevo". The photos were taken by a photographer who I'd long known of (Edward Serotta), and I own some of his books - so it was wonderful meeting him and hearing him speak - and I was very familiar with the story of what he portrayed in the photos. Unbeknownst to me beforehand, several UN ambassadors attended - and they each gave beautiful & emotional speeches after we'd watched a very affecting & short documentary film. I was sitting right behind all of the ambassadors, so that was neat.... The Institute has a lovely courtyard and the reception was held there afterwards. Then we saw the photo exhibit, which is very special and I highly recommend it (the photos will only be there through October 14). I'm very grateful to the Cervantes Institute for sponsoring such a special event. read more

And absolutely fabulous hidden gem. I went here on an early summer day and spent several hours in the garden reading enjoying the tranquility. read more

Instituto Cervantes offers fantastic Spanish courses. The professor I had was friendly and always helpful, and the pace of learning is great; not too slow, not too fast. Would highly recommend! read more

I registered for the Beginners Spanish class. I attended the first class and all of the students spoke the language very well. So the teacher focused on them and did not teach for me, the beginner. I was very disappointed because i was really looking forward to making sense of the language. I can watch Univision if i want to be yelled at in Spanish. This was a complete waste of time and money. read more

I discovered the Cervantes Institute back in 2006, but just recently became a member. Terrible; I should've joined eons ago. The Cervantes Institute was created to promote and divulge the Spanish language and culture, and it has since opened branches in Japan, Shanghai, etc. Located at the Amster Yard, a New York City landmark that once housed a vibrant community of artists gathered around an inner courtyard on E 49th St; has now been retrofitted (losing much of it's original state) to incorporate an auditorium, classrooms and a very resourceful library. The Borges Library not only has an excellent collection of Spanish and Hispanic authors, but many dictionaries and reference books, as well as Spanish movies, and even a CD Library for Spanish Music lovers. If you want to find a particular book by a recondite or known Spanish author, chances are you'll find it here. I recognized many old editions, and was especially delighted with the Pio Baroja and the '98 Generation selections I found; there was lot's of Borges, Cortazar, Valle Inclan, and other usual suspects. Oh, and lest I forget, the library also has free wi-fi. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Institute Cervantes besides the Library is the many events they sponsor/present, as well as the Spanish and Catalan classes that they offer *hint, hint* In the case of events, such interesting lectures in their main auditorium like "The Spanish War of Ernest Hemmingway" (from last March 4) or screening of movies, like today's "La vida Perra de Juanita Narboni (the fucked-up life of Juanita Narboni)" which was, well, fucked up (about life in Tangiers prior to Morocco's independence in 1956) The institute also makes itself present when the Spanish film festival hits the town, and they offer discounts to members and other perks. But maybe what I happen to love the most when coming here is the peaceful feeling you get when you enter through the gates and into the courtyard... a welcome peace and feeling of solitude, and I just like to seat by a bench, book in hand and linger... if only for 5 minutes. ...or stars. read more

I've taken around a dozen courses at Instituto Cervantes; I started at A1.1 and just finished a C1.3 class. My favorite thing is the vast number of course offerings, which go a long way in giving a thorough treatment of the language and ensuring that students can be placed at a level that is close to their ability. The instructors are generally excellent. In my courses I've only had one or two that were middle-grade, only teaching to the course material and professor's guide, which can make for a flat experience. Most select a subset of the book activities and supplement with their own handouts, readings, and assignments. There is a large diversity in the students - professionals of all stripes, college students, seniors - for motivations that vary across the spectrum: personal, professional, and hobby-related. Classes are capped at 12, most are smaller. The learning material is alright. If you work through it in all the courses, it does cover a lot of ground. One weakness is not treating some grammar topics sufficiently - teachers will supplement handouts for anything confusing because the book might cover it with only a few exercises. Another weakness is vocabulary; there aren't big lists of verbs, nouns, and collocations to drill and test on. The administration is functional but disorganized. Everything works well enough to learn, but the details are not always there. In the 2 years I've been taking classes, they have never bothered to fix the computer clocks to display the correct time... they are like 22 to 37 minutes off. I doubt they ever will; it's a detail. My final comment would be: for learning a language, the classroom is great for setting a foundation, but there's no substitute for working one-on-one to practice authentic and fluent communication. Unfortunately, tutoring rates at Cervantes are outrageous. It's cheaper to fly to Mexico for a week and buy 40 hours of tutoring than it is to buy 10 hours here. read more

When I wanted to take Spanish classes to brush up on mi Español, mi padre being the proud Portuguese man he is would only allow me to get my Spanish language education from one place. The prestigious Instituto Cervantes. Every week, I'd trek up to midtown to attend a two hour evening Spanish class. The facilities at the Instituto Cervantes are spectacular. When you walk through the alcoved walk way, you enter a gorgeous quiet court yard with benches. You feel like you're entering another country. The facilities at the Instituto Cervantes are really nice. They have a full Spanish Library and sometimes offer free Spanish books to keep. Teachers are highly qualified and are native Spanish speakers. Staff is very helpful and they even test for the DELE exam and language level verification for Fulbright. You'll definitely learn if you decide to study Spanish here. read more

The best place to learn Spanish in New York and discover Spanish and Latin American culture. They have a wonderful library with books, movies, comics... All in Spanish. They also have an auditorium for concerts, conferences, talks... and free entry exhibition gallery. It's in a landmark building with a gorgeous public garden where you can sit and have lunch. Check their weekly wine tasting and the reading book club! read more

See all

This is an international organization created and run by the government of Spain to promote the teaching and use of the Spanish language and to promote Spanish culture. I believe it's the best place in the city to study Spanish as a Second Language. A few years ago when I returned to NYC after having lived in Spain for a year, I took a class at the Instituto Cervantes to continue to improve my Spanish. The teachers were top notch, all native speakers and many of them from Spain. The other students were also very interesting and fun. The classes aren't cheap, but it's well worth it. I had classmates in my Advanced level class who had learned Spanish only at the Instituto Cervantes in NYC and they were totally fluent. The Institute also administers the D.E.L.E. test (the Spanish version of the TOFEL), has a great library and hosts loads of Spanish cultural events like wine tastings, movie showings, and Flamenco concerts. read more

Terrible. Been going for a year. Learned more in 3 weeks in spain than an entire year At instituto. Don't get me wrong, some teachers Are great, if u are lucky to get them, but there is a problem with the admin choosing verbally abusive and inappropriate teachers who are disrespectful of other cultures and your level of Spanish (but we are learning!) 2 teachers have sent me emails that are highly inappropriate and aggressive. Another teacher was finally let go after classes and classes of paying students complaining about her and finally an entire course of students dropped the course due to her teaching. The admin didn't replace her, but just simply didn't offer another course, to the detriment of the students that WANT to learn Spanish. To be honest, she probably still works there. I would not recommend. read more

It's been years since I've taken a Spanish class, the last time being in high school, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, my two-week "super intensive" course was a smooth process from beginning to end. Although the website was a bit difficult to navigate, within days I took a placement test, had a phone placement interview, and was registered for my course. The facilities themselves are gorgeous -- the quiet courtyards inside make you feel like you're in a place far from the noise of Midtown East, but its location is close enough to grab a coffee from one of the nearby cafes during break times. The library is incredibly well-stocked, with plenty of audiovisual materials in addition to literature, poetry, and reference books. Did I mention it's open to the public, too (unlike the library at the Alliance Française a few blocks up...)? And of course, the classes themselves. They're generally small (under 20 people), which allows them to be far more intimate and personalized than most Spanish classes I've taken before, and you're able to get help on areas that you need it the most (I'm looking at you, pluscuamperfecto). I only took one course, so I can't speak for all of the teachers, but Celia was amazing -- she took the time to explain difficult concepts, and brought in her own materials from time-to-time to keep the class engaging and relevant. One caveat, however: since the Instituto is based in Spain, many of the texts are based on European Spanish and the Spanish worldview. That is, the default vocabulary will be based on the European standard, rather than the Latin American. Sometimes there were discussions about the Spanish monarchy, sightseeing in Spain, the historical role of the Spanish Empire, the Spanish Civil War, etc. This wasn't a problem for me, as the Spanish I learned was of the European sort, but if that isn't the kind of Spanish you're trying to learn, it may be a bit off-putting (or just superfluous). All in all, Instituto Cervantes is one of the best places to learn (or brush up on) your Spanish in NYC, or just a chill place to hang out and soak in Spanish culture. read more

Dear Instituto Cervantes - I'm all for international places but please fix your bug problem in the lower level. The courtyard is very beautiful. But unless this is some new kind of weight loss program, I'm not sure what your film series was trying to accomplish. I went to see a film there - it was horrifying - they showed close ups of cute little sea creatures & then chopped them in half. Did not stay long. read more

I took an intermediate Spanish class with Cervantes in 2018. Pros: The teacher was great. Patient, entertaining, explained concepts well, answered all questions, really seemed to care about helping us learn. The novella that we read for homework was interesting and appropriate for our level--just challenging enough. I also liked our class discussions about it. Classmates were serious about learning Spanish. I enjoyed the time we spent interacting as a group with the teacher. The facilities were charming, clean, and spacious by Manhattan standards. It is nice to have lessons that deal with grammatical nuances. Other schools are less comprehensive, focusing on big topics like tenses and leaving you to pick up the finer points on your own. Cons: The textbook, Aula. It's so busy with graphics and photos and color-coding that I feel overwhelmed just picking it up. Its primary purpose seems to be guiding class activity, not teaching new concepts. The few pages that explain grammar are confusing (and yellow). You will want to buy another textbook/reference to supplement. Many of the book's exercises were convoluted, and I think they'd even be confusing if explained in English. Often students were unprepared to go over homework because they'd misunderstood the book's instructions. Pro or con depending on your preferences: The curriculum involves lots of exercises working in pairs or small groups. They include writing short narratives and skits together. I found this to be a struggle--simultaneously trying to be clever, getting on the same page as a partner (using Spanish of course), and blocking out the conversations of other groups. But the activities could also be fun. The pace was not very fast. read more

It is the best place to learn Spanish in a cost effective way in NYC. The courses are of a great quality. You can rent for free Spanish CDs when you are a student. read more

I have wanted to learn Spanish for so long. And finally, during COVID, I've had the time to take Spanish classes remotely at Cervantes in New York. Learning with teacher Claudia Mendoza is such a terrific experience! I've been taking classes 3x/week since June along with several lovely classmates....we've stayed together for several semesters (6-8 weeks each semester). And now taking Conversation classes with Claudia. Best teacher....what a pleasure! read more

I attended a wine tasting here under the direction of Helio San Miguel. As part of the sampling I received two wines that had clearly spoiled. These classes are expensive, so I would have liked to receive wine that would actually be palatable to sample, and not something any sane person would throw away. He managed to spout off uninvited political discussion which included his self described Spanish "right wing" policies and beliefs. He also managed to declare the food of an entire ethnicity and I quote "disgusting, and worthless". I would have expected more tolerant discussion and lighter discussion during a class. read more

I took several courses at ICE. My first two courses (beginner intensive) were amazing. The teacher was top-notch, she was really engaging and great at explaining concepts. It was fun and I learned a lot. I was really excited about continuing but the teacher that followed was a disaster. I was confused as I thought it must be a mistake. The teachers all follow the same method, but the two couldn't be more radically different. I later learned that the teachers at ICE are not professionals but instead they pick native speakers and teach them the method. I assume it's a quick course as the differences in teaching styles were glaring. My second teacher lacked basic communication skills and often times lost patience, would dismiss the questions, get angry at the question etc..I took another course later and the teacher was better, but not great. As one other reviewer mentioned it's a hit or miss, there is lack of consistency and you don't know who is the teacher until the course starts. They do let you change classes after the classes start though. I love the building and the library, it's a great place to study and I just wish that their criteria for teachers was more rigorous / consistent. read more

This is my third course at Cervantes. The facility is very nice and and I love that they are always having boozy events in the court yard. My first class was good because it was small but I did not like the text book and we worked on tons of handouts. I kept waiting for the class to get better but it never did. The teacher was nice but dull and it was hard to sit through all 3 hours. By the end of the course I was the ONLY student left in the class as the other 5 students just stopped coming. None of them continued on at Cervantes. The second class I took was much better and renewed my hope that I could learn Spanish here. My teacher was engaging and good at explaining new concepts. I would have liked more review of what we had learned in previous weeks but the text book is set up so that you learn a concept in a vacuum. Now I have just finished my third "semester" at Cervantes and I am frustrated once again. My teacher cuts me off dozens of times when I am trying to just form a unique thought. I can't process the correction so I just get frustrated. Other students in the class all agree that she seems to expect us to just know how to conjugate a new verb form with out actually teaching it to us. Most of us just go home after class and look the lesson up on the Internet and learn it on our own. Not exactly what I am paying over $500 for. The take away is that there is zero consistency with the teaching or the teaching methods at this school. The worst part is that they also will not tell you who is teaching the class until the first day of the class so you can't avoid the ones that you don't like. For my money I will unfortunately need to find another school- which is also hard when you are an intermediate student since so many of the schools cater to beginners- but I can not keep wasting my time and money on a program that does work for me. read more

Learning a language can be difficult and not everyone is good at teaching. I just completed my first course with the Instituto Cervantes and loved it. My teacher was amazing, friendly and had a way of teaching that made it fun and entertaining. I loved the location and environment they have over there. On a few occasions, my class benefited from extra wine from tastings the school hosted, free(great) wine is always is plus! I only wish they had later classes in the evening so I could take more classes. I can't wait for the next session to begin! OLE! read more

STOP!!! Do not go there and waste your money. The instructors are rude and arrogant. This is not a place for beginners and or anyone else for that matter. Do yourself a favor and find someone else. Only thing nice about this place is the grounds. read more

One of the best Spanish classes for kids. LOVE IT and the kids look forward to going every Saturday. The teachers are very good with the kids and they learn quite a lot and fast. would recommend this to anyone. read more

Well, I have spent the last year finishing my "A" levels at the institute and feel like I will never master my mother tongue. My teachers affectively made me feel insecure and I left this year feeling VERY disillusioned. The main reason being that I had signed up on the idea of learning true spanish culture from spain as advertised but, not only was I corrected constantly in class as I tried to pronounce with a madrileño accent, I was made to feel my search of my spanish roots was "posh". My teachers were not from spain and therefore I never received the cultural reference of my history (my mother is first generation spanish american and raised me speaking english). I had hoped at the institute I could finally learn "Castellano" like my mother speaks and I kept hoping with each class it would get better but, to no avail. Maybe the option of having a teacher from spain? Still, I am glad I got started on the road to learning spanish but, I was sold the idea that you learn the language "like" you are in spain but, that is just not true. It is not easy learning a new language and I will still push forward in my search for fluency making mistakes, breaking into cold sweats "trying" but now only with a teacher with a true love of the language and the country. read more

This is an amazing program that is great for any level of spanish. Having experienced two levels in 3 weeks (I was accelerated), I can tell you that the pace at which the program follows, class size (no more than 12), and content is amazing. If you happen to get Sarah or Luisen as teachers - icing on the cake. They are both GREAT! I haven't taken Spanish since high school (10+ years ago) and I feel like I could be fluent in a few months. I am currently in "Elementary II". read more

What a wonderful institute. Their class sizes are small, which means you can learn a lot in them. They offer a lot more than just classes to support students. They always have screenings of new films, academic lectures, and musical and social events. I recommend visiting their library. It's open to the public and offers a wide variety of resources that will serve you for a lifetime. read more

The Cervantes Institute has been and continues to be great blessing in my life. When I began my course work, I was immediately impressed by the compassion and expertise of my professor. I had spokenand read Spanish poorly up to that point. However, upon completion;my comprehension of this beautiful language and my ability to read it, increased four fold... easily. The Cultural Programs are spectacular and world-class in their presentation. From book discussions with famous authors, to Spanish "Spaghetti Westerns" of the 1960's, to fantastic Flamenco guitarists, the programs are always professional and passionate. I have had the blessing of meeting kind and friendly fellow students with whom I share my joys in learning Spanish. I have also met native Spanish-Speakers from all over the world, who are eager to share their language and culture with this old boy from Brooklyn. This isn't just a language program or a cultural center. This is Madrid in Manhattan and so much more! read more

I have tried registering for classes at the Instituto Cervantes twice. The first time I sent an email about classes and got no reply. So I tried again. This time they sent the placement exam and asked that after it was completed that I send it back to them along with a date and time for them to phone for an oral exam. I sent it back and requested a date and time. No one called. So I wrote them again and asked if they got the exam. No reply. That was over two weeks ago. I think this is pretty unprofessional and doesn't say much about their relationship with prospective students. read more

I've taken Spanish since January 2015 to present. The first class was alot of fun and great b/c you're learning, tho I found the teacher's effort was average. I continued on to higher level courses and now notice several major the flaws. Foremost, these are NOT professional teachers. They're a bit better than someone off the street who speak Spanish but they're not professionals and don't act like one. Moreover, they seem to respect Euro-American students more, which is bizzare, since we're in NYC. This bothers me b/c Spain (Europe) and South America may have blatant racial hierachy but in NYC, we do NOT...news flash!! As I progress more to upper levels, I need more skilled professional teachers, and ones who care about teaching Spanish and not just to make some money on the side. After 2nd level, lesser and lesser students continue on, so there are fewer classes available to choose from schedule-wise. They boast that they cap at 12 students per class but this is alot of students and more of the classes end up being full since they offer less classes. Experiential-wise, your level of learning fluctuates wildly, depending on the teachers efforts, style, and the skill-levels of the students. If the students are too advanced, you feel a bit lost, and if you're too advanced, the course is too easy; I had both exp. The first exp was unpleasant and the later one, felt like you weren't getting your money's worth. After awhile, some students hunt around for the right fit in a class. Cervantes doesn't help you and tell you that all teachers are "the same". The students are forced to shop around and miss some first week of courses to look for the right "fit" for teachers and students. It's beginning to feel like crap shoot, whether you get a good exp or not. I'm really undecided to continue on or try an online program at home. It'll depend on whether I can find a "great" teacher I can cling onto and follow them to the next levels. If anyone knows of a great teacher, please please post their names. read more

If you are serious about learning spanish this is the place. To see for yourself walk into their location and I promise you will be sold by the atmosphere- relaxed, and professional. The teachers are wonderful and the class size is small. I had an early morning class and there were only 5 of us- a lot of personal attention from the teacher. Check it out and enjoy your adventure into Spanish Culture. read more

Not very happy with my experience. I took the placement test and was assigned to A2.2 advanced beginner. The first class was extremely difficult for me and I asked if I should move to an easier level. She assured me this class was appropriate for me. I have been struggling throughout the class and when I told her after several lessons I wanted to move to the earlier level she told me it was too late. She appears to digresses from the curiculum to talk in Spanish about politics, short stories and then asks us to analyze this material. Since we spend a portion of the class on her agenda she then rushes through the material in the curiculum. The subject matter of the A2.2 curiculum according to the website is supposed to be much more concrete . I find her to be intimidating and she makes me feel self-conscious when I speak Spanish. She is a poor teacher. . read more

I have had a wonderful experience at the Instituto Cervantes for the past three years. I started at the entry level with "hola" and am now in the advanced classes. The teachers are amazing and the location is an oasis. I prefer the daytime classes as they are less crowded but even in the evenings, you typically only have 10 students. I have taken regular group classes, book club and DELE preparation classes. In addition to learning Spanish, I have also made great friends with both students and teachers. You get back what you put into your classes. The teachers will go the extra mile to correct your homework on their own time. Since my ultimate goal is to move to Spain, I gravitated to the teachers from Spain especially Enrique and Jose Ignacio (a grammar whiz). Celia de Venezuela is also exceptional - she's teaches regular classes, DELE and book club with unflagging enthusiasm. The administrative staff is also terrific and will always help you figure out what is best for you. If you aren't happy, say something as they will sort it out for you. And if you have time before class, have a picnic in the wonderful courtyard at the Instituto. It's a gem. If you are serious about learning Spanish in New York, this is the place to go. read more

Sorry, I could not give these people a NO STAR for customer service. their billing shows "0" due when it comes in, as if it part 2 were a free addition to the program. Probably the learning portion is good, I would not know, as my family experienced two ongoing medical emergencies after the $9.95 trial version was sent out. In fact, I have never taken the trail version out of the shipping box. My wife has been bed ridden for two months except for 5 DAILY trips per week to hyperbaric chamber treatment after almost dying. Now that is our problem, but these people are heartless money grabbers, even if you call and try to explain the situation. Return their after the 10 period, forget about it, but they will gladly put you in collection. And please do not expect a friendly voice on the other end of the line, when speaking to a customer service supervisor. Oh, the second ongoing medical situation, my daughter is in a hospital bed in our living room, after being an auto accident involving a drunk driver. There response, TOO BAD JUST SEND US THE $64. BUCKS. Well if indeed, sometime in the next few months, I happen to have some non- medical money in the bank, I will send them ONE DOLLAR PER MONTH. read more

If you want to learn Spanish this is the place to go to in NYC. The facilities are the best and classes never exceed 12 students usually have 4-10 students. The library contains materials (books, periodicals, DVDs) for all levels and is comfortable. The teachers come from different Spanish speaking countries. I have had teachers from Cuba, Spain. Chile and Mexico and an American of Dominican parentage who lived in Spain and Mexico for several years. Some of the teachers are more comfortable with the technology available than others and some of the teachers while engaging, take the easy way out (allowing class conversation to go on to the detriment of covering the syllabus and homework). However, overall it has been a positive experience and better than other schools I have tried. I thought 3 hours would be difficult to get through, but with the break it is eminently doable and does allow for conversation and more formal learning. read more

This school is situated in a lovely courtyard, making it one of the most pleasant places to attend classes in the city. Our experience was unusual, but its worth sharing if it helps other students. I needed weekend spanish classes for a teenager,and signed up here based on the good reviews of other parents. Unfortunately, we had problems from the start- the class I originally wanted was cancelled, resulting in our being offered a class that was not ideal for our schedule. The school did refund our money- however, still needing classes, we reconsidered and took the early class. Unfortunately, the class seems to have been geared to younger children, and only when a different instructor substituted one day, did my child realize how little she was getting from the regular teacher. So, perhaps it really is dependent upon the teacher you get, as some of the reviews say here. I think that with a class of age appropriate peers, the experience could have been different. But looking at the course materials we paid $45 for, I find it hard to imagine that it makes sense to teach teens with childish cartoon images. Younger children probably have a much better experience with the materials. So, while probably a good fit for young children, we found the instruction for teens to be lacking. On the other hand, I can say that the school has always been very responsive to any questions or concerns I have had via email, and I find the open communication helpful. read more