Mandarin is supposed to be one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn - and don't…read moreget me wrong - it is not an easy language - but my instructor Jackson makes learning both approachable and fun. I have only been taking Mandarin for 2 months - but I'm having the best time ever. I started off taking the Elementary A (the crash course) with Jackson with private lessons (3 classes per week - 1 hr per class). I have since moved onto Elementary B and am now taking 3 classes a week x 2 hours per class. Let's talk about what makes CLA and Jackson amazing. 1. The focus on proper pronunciation (Jackson blows away other 5 star italki instructors - he spends the proper amount of time making sure I'm doing the proper pronunciation and using the proper tones) 2. Each class has a combination of pronunciation + new vocabulary + reading + speaking. (We are holding off on writing at my request - for now). 3. After class - Jackson sends me a worksheet with vocabulary and sentences to focus on 4. The post class material / homework / take-aways are great. We get YouTube fiches to learn more, we have online flashcards, we have other online learning tools, 5. The real curriculum is great - there is a path to follow that can take you from beginner to advanced. 6. Jackson shares stories about China - just today we were talking about the different Chinese festivals / holidays - and he would share stories about each one from his life. 7. Also - I spoke with Ysabella - she was instrumental in helping me figure out how to customize my training for my long term goals. That and she motivated me to accelerate my training (hence the 2 hour long private classes). Btw - if you get the chance - take longer classes. I would say one - two hour class is more valuable than two - one hours classes. Hard to explain - but it's night and day. 8. China field trips - while I have not participated - it's nice to know that CLA helps advertise Chinese programs and field trips to china. I'll look into this in the future. Working with CLA is absolutely one of the best investments I have made in myself in a long time.

I am literally tickled with my studies of Chinese and my laoshi at CLA. The course is just the…read moreright pace, I look forward to my classes two days a week. Not to get melodramatic but this has been a life changer. Learning Chinese is now my passion, my hobby. I told a friend in China today: Wo ganjue ziji xiang ge haizi dedaole xin wanju. I feel like a kid with a new toy. (and i am really old lol). Chinese rocks. Jiayou!

I've been studying Japanese with Chika for almost two years, one-on-one via Skype. For me, she's…read morethe perfect teacher. She clearly explains the vocabulary, grammar, and cultural points in the textbooks we're using in a way that's interesting and fun. And she has a kind of secret method of previewing material so that when I reach the chapter that teaches it, it's easier to learn. I think she expects my best effort, and this motivates me. She gives her best in return. I visited Japan after studying for about a year. It was thrilling to be able to read signs and say a sentence and be understood. (Granted, I often couldn't understand what people said back to me!) I knew then that Chika had helped me build a solid language foundation, and I want to go back again to practice more. If you really want to learn Japanese, study with Chika.

I highly recommend taking Japanese lessons from Chika Sugiyama! I took lessons with her for about a…read moreyear to prepare for my family's move to Japan. She was so helpful with teaching me the fundamentals of Japanese as well as instructing me in specific vocabulary and grammar concepts I wanted to learn. She also provided additional resources and suggestions for ways to improve my Japanese. She is an encouraging, kind, and creative teacher who really prioritizes an individual's goals for learning!

I would recommend taking at least one class at JASW if you're looking around the area for Japanese…read morelanguage classes. The class will depend greatly on the teacher and the students in the class. Since this is not a class for credit, the class is more informal and goes at the pace of the students. Classes are in English and mostly go over the previous day's workbook and then the grammar for that week. There aren't any tests and there isn't really any kanji or vocabulary drilling (there is a separate Kanji class I think). After the semester, Sensei will give out a survey/comment form. I asked her to conduct class in Japanese and to do listening comprehension and she actually did those things next semester. Then I had another teacher that would just go off on tangents and not talk about anything in the book, instead focusing on topics the students seemed interested in on that day. There are some students that take the class seriously, and some that don't care at all and don't prepare/come/come late. The worst are those that try to argue with the teacher, but those types of students will always exist. Since there is no testing requirement for the class, anyone can place themselves in any class they see fit which is the cause of the lack of consistency in classes. JASW is a good place to start if you don't want the pressure of a traditional classroom and the classes are *very* affordable, especially if you're a JASW member (hence the 4 stars instead of 3 stars). Don't expect to learn too much unless you challenge yourself outside of class since there are no metrics or tests to evaluate progress. It's also located in a very convenient area (bonus!)

Be warned that this is not your traditional school environment where the teacher does exercises in…read moreclass. You are expected to do the bulk of the studying on your own. Class is just reciting the answers. For complete newbies unless you are highly motivated l recommend community college courses, they take more time but you will get a thorough education. Studying on your own is not the most efficient way for most people especially a foreign language.

You can take online language classes. Check the web site and social media for events. The…read moreorganization has varied activities.

Racist, unprofessional management. They have not invested in the technology needed to provide…read morehybrid courses so even after four week it is not possible to hear students and the teacher well. When complaints were raised by white students they made immediate changes. When complaints were raised by non-white students they indicated that they were not willing to listen, didn't respond and stated that they had other priorities. It's a real shame that this is a place where kids are supposed to learn about Italian culture. COVID protocols are also not followed, as teachers don't wear masks in an attempt to overcome technology issues.

I recently completed the Management Concepts Cost of Reimbursable Contracts with Stacy Stautberg…read more She was one of the best instructors I've had in a while. She explained the course materials in layman terms, was attentive, and kept the class engaged. Her teaching style was great, and she is a treasure to Management Concepts.

I just completed a three day Introductory to Grants Management and Cooperative Agreements training…read more This training was in no way introductory. The trainer had to speed through the content and was even asked to slow down multiple times. This training needs to be broken into two classes with one actually having the introductory information and one with the rest. The trainer had to read to us from the manual and she read the slides to us. She did the best she could with the training materials provided to her. I would only recommend this course to someone who has experience in grants and cooperative agreements. Even the trainer was asking the participants how they usually run their grants and the different functions. Some of the participants were very well versed, meaning they were probably taking this as part of obtaining a certificate. Very unfortunate.

I just want to give a different perspective than the others on this website…read more My experience was completely different! I registered for morning classes and was blessed with two amazing teachers that made the classes interactive and fun. Leslie was very entertaining and Genesis was super informative and relatable. They went beyond to help all of us and were very lenient when it came to paying for the classes. Furthermore, I really want to recommend this driving school to anyone in the area because not only are they informative but you also get to be taught by a great staff that does care about you. (They care enough to even give us Rookie Manual's for free if we lost ours). So just wanted to clear the air and tell you that it's a great place to attend.

These people are not straightforward. They tell you a lower and finally meet you and say something…read moreelse... then they act like it's their right. Just go somewhere else if I were you.

I started late in life to learn Japanese and LEARN JAPAN has proven the perfect way to do this…read more Instead of using just one textbook and covering the same ground with every student, their approach customizes what you learn to what you need. In my case I wanted to read and understand Japanese literature and films, so we have focused on vocabulary-building and translation of Japanese poems and prose tales. Over time I've become curious about writing, too, and have added calligraphy practice to my program. I've been at this for some time now am delighted with the things I've learned. Other Japanese classes I'd taken focused much more on how to speak in tourist situations. I admit my language interests were special [hence 4 stars instead of 5] and that other students may have different priorities. But my experience convinces me that if you want to really get to know the culture and traditions of country and a language that is fascinatingly different in practically every way from what we native speakers of English take for granted, LEARN JAPAN has just what it takes to guide you to your own chosen destination.

This school is so good. I know it is small, but it is super good. The school day starts at 9:24,…read moreunlike typical schools which start at 7:30 or 8. The school day ends at 4:06, again, unlike typical schools which end at 2:30 or 3. There are 8 blocks (same thing as periods) in a day. There is A-H block. You can take unique classes at HB like Chinese, German, or sign language. It is located in Cherrydale. Kids can start going off-campus in 8th grade. They usally go to Starbucks or Chipotle. For more information about this school, please go to http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/Domain/1591