I highly recommend the Alliance Française de Los Angeles. The teachers are wonderful. My kids had a…read moregreat experience there. On vous remercie infiniment!

Alliance Francaise in conjunction with Bordeaux Sister Cities, Los Angeles celebrated Fête de…read moreBastille with a bang by featuring the wines of Bordeaux, the region that has given birth to super high-end vignerons such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Ausone, and others too numerous to count (about 10,000 in all). Bordeaux produces only about 1.5% of the world production of wine, but its world class wines hold a disproportionate amount of awe & influence, and with it, snob appeal. Apparently, the region of Bordeaux, which comes from "au bord de l'eau (by the water), especially in Saint- Émilion had been exporting wine to Rome since the 4th century. Château Ausone dates back to the days when the Roman Empire held sway. The Greeks may have been the first to introduce the grape to France since they established a colony called Massalia, which is now the present-day Marseille, in about 600 bce. However, there is no documentation that those original grapes planted by the Greeks have survived to this day. (DNA analysis of the grapes in France & in present day Greece may answer that question.) In Bordeaux, Reds predominate with 89% of production while whites comprise 11%. Merlot makes up about 66%, Cabernet Sauvignon a bit less than 33%, the rest is Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carménère, & Malbec. White varietals are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, & a touch of Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Sauvignon Gris, Colombard. The large water way called the Gironde & its two tributaries, the Dordogne & Garonne, is the major dividing line so that there is a right & left bank. The right bank's soil has more clay-rich, relatively cooler soil temperature, water-retaining soil which is preferred by the early ripening Merlot. The left bank's soil is gravelly & stony so that the sun heats up the soil which is beloved by heat-loving Cabernet Sauvignon. The center piece in the lounge area was a long table whose center was decorated with the French Tri- Colors & deep red roses possibly symbolizing the people of France who have given their lives to the French Republique. Surrounding this was a groaning table of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, & crackers which would pair well with the wines to be sampled. Sommelier Laurent P. Michit, who is also a wine merchant, presented a good representative of wines from Bordeaux. 1) Chateau de Fontenille, Entre-Deux-Mers, 2012 is 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Muscadelle, 20% Sémillon. Sweet musky bouquet with a touch of citrus & grassy tones. Smooth & astringent yet slightly rough due to higher acid. 2) Chateau Macquin, Saint-George-Saint Émilion, 2011 is probably primarily Merlot with Cabernet Franc. 3) Chateau Tenein, Bordeaux Superior, 2010 is 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc. 4) Chateau Patache d'Aux, Medoc, 2010 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot . This was my favorite drink-right-now wine. Very smooth, nice balance of soft tannins & acid with a touch of cherry & light blue berries that has the right sugar content to make it great to drink just by itself. I guess this wine appeals to my plebeian nature since it is listed as Cru Bourgeois. 5) Chateau de la Cour, Saint-Émilion 2010, Grand Cru is 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine probably would mellow out in about 10 years. The tannins & acids are relatively strong so that the wine can rest for a long time to mellow out the tannins & acids although I have had other Grand Crus that were far harsher. Good bottle to buy for those who believe that all good things come to those who wait. The guests at the Fête de Bastille were a mixture of Francophone & Anglophone speakers which made for a nice mix. The cultural & educational awareness was high unlike some soirées where we Americans predominate. There was little talk about La Revolution & about Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, and the talk of wine predominated. I would guess that Vins = La Vie, at least to the French. Vive la France!!!

Excellent enrichment programs with creative teaching methods. Kids learn through play, which makes…read morethe experience enjoyable and memorable

Teachers are knowledgeable, and the small class sizes help children gain confidence in new…read morelanguages quickly

If you have a question, forget it. No way to ask questions; no FAQ's. If you're stuck, figure it…read moreout yourself! If you're sick of "como esta usted" sorry. You may spend the next month on it--so get over it. No way to set your own pace. The learning is programmed and if you don't fit, too bad! Even their phone number is designed to not answer your questions. No humans are involved in this course.

The best English class I've ever taken because of the Esther Caporale. Her major is dialogue…read moreteacher so I learn not only grammar but which is more important how to pronounce words correctly to people understand me.

I took a class (Conversation Cafe) for 6 months. I left the class, because of moving to Tokyo…read more.. Amazing teacher, Esther, she is the best teacher I've ever met. I have learned so much from her. Especially pronunciation! Improving my pronunciation makes me feel more comfortable and confident with communicating in English. I also enjoyed a conversation with my classmates.There are a lot of opportunities to talk with people from various countries. And each session has different topics, so you will never get bored. You should definitely go!!!

O Nick é um excelente professor de inglês e me ajudou a aperfeiçoar meu nível. Ele teve uma…read moreabordagem diferente revisando textos e melhorando minha forma de se comunicar. O fato dele saber Português (Brasil), contribuiu para a comunicação em Inglês! Recomendo!

If you're looking to learn Spanish with someone who's got the heart and passion for you to succeed,…read moreit's Nick. He's not a native speaker, so has gone through the weeds and knows how to help navigate you through the language learning jungle. It takes time, effort and commitment and by building the blocks, can help you either have fun touristy chats when you're traveling, or intense business conversations. He brings a lot of worldly and educational experience, and makes learning easy and fun!

I've been taking German with Jerilyn for several weeks. She is an awesome instructor who makes the…read moreclass fun and effective! She teaches fully in German, but also makes it approachable by explaining things in German in a way that is easy to understand. Even in a group class, she provides tons of resources so you can learn at the pace that matches the time you're able to commit. I've already learned so much and have signed up for the next course!

These Spanish classes are amazing. All of the teachers I've had have been great. Most recently I've…read moreworked with Karen for quite a few classes and she's an excellent teacher. Very patient, makes you feel comfortable, and explains things well. I highly recommend it.

The teachers at Worldspeak are the best. My daughter is in their spanish class. Shes learning so…read moremuch so fast, that now i need to take a spanish class. Lol.

A letter from a grateful mom (and a linguist)…read more Dear Parents, I want to share our family's experience with WorldSpeak School, where my child is currently enrolled. As someone who has been researching bilingualism since 2009 and now works in higher ed (UCLA), I've spent years learning about the benefits of raising multilingual children. When a colleague - who had sent all three of her kids to WorldSpeak - told me about this school, I knew right away it was the place for us. I registered my child as soon as I could, and it's been one of the best decisions we've made. WorldSpeak offers full-immersion programs in Spanish, Chinese, and Russian. It focuses on every child's natural ability to pick up new languages during their "window of opportunity," when their brains are especially receptive to learning. But it's about more than just language - kids here develop academic skills, explore music and arts, learn life skills, make friends, and have so much fun along the way. What makes WorldSpeak stand out is how it connects cutting-edge research with real-world practice. Studies like those by Bice and Kroll (2019) show that even children who grow up speaking only one language benefit from exposure to linguistic diversity. Hearing other languages - even when they don't fully understand them--helps shape their brain networks in meaningful ways. Even more remarkable, Sundara, Ward, Conboy, and Kuhl (2019) found that as little as five total hours of exposure to a second language can leave a measurable impact on young children's language learning. Why does this matter? Because the benefits go far beyond just speaking another language. Research into bilingualism highlights cognitive advantages, particularly in executive functioning - skills like focusing attention, switching tasks, and problem-solving. Studies (Bialystok, 1999; Bialystok et al., 2004; Costa et al., 2008) have consistently shown that bilingual children often excel in these areas, giving them tools for success in many aspects of life. And here's something exciting: WorldSpeak is currently looking to form a new Italian group and is always open to adding new languages. If you know families interested in an Italian program - or any other language - you should definitely let them know. Finally, what truly makes WorldSpeak so special is its wonderful teachers. They create incredible experiences that go far beyond academics or language learning. The care and attention they give to every child make this school feel like a second home. As a linguist and a parent of two trilingual kids, I can't recommend WorldSpeak highly enough. It's been an amazing place for my child to grow and thrive, and I hope more families discover what this unique school has to offer. WorldSpeak currently has two locations in West LA, making it convenient for families in the area. You can learn more about their programs and philosophy on their website: https://worldspeakschool.com/

Fantastic teacher: I've always dreamed of speaking Spanish. I tried some apps but they didn't work…read morefor me. A friend told me about Francisco and I'm so glad he did. I've learned so much with him! He's a great teacher - he's patient, funny and organized. I like the videos and audiovisuals he sends me, they're very interesting and they help me with my listening The classes are very interactive and I learn not only grammar and vocabulary, but also culture and traditions of different places. That's so cool! His prices are fair and his lessons are totally worth it. I'm having a blast with Francisco and I can't wait to learn more. You should try his lessons too!

Francisco is so patient, knowledgeable, kind, flexible, and helpful. My pronunciation got immensely…read morebetter and I can have small conversations now. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to learn Spanish at their own pace.

My boys had an outstanding experience at Anar Center. Their teacher Shiva is exceptional,…read morepassionate, patient, and skilled at making every lesson engaging. The structured curriculum balances grammar and conversation effectively. I highly recommend Anar Center to anyone looking to learn a new language. Thank you Shiva and Anar Center for making this journey so enjoyable.

I love Anar Center. My daughter has been taking Farsi classes here for years. I love how teacher…read moreShiva not only works on the Farsi language but also celebrating the Persian culture. She does a wonderful job of making learning fun. It's a great way to learn about the culture in a way that is fun and also educational. I have friends who take the adult classes which provide more structure and detailed learning. It's also a wonderful place to take special workshops, which are so fun for the kids. My kids always look forward to Farsi class at Anar center!

I came to Bellah looking for help with a web application project where I needed to build out a…read moreFrench version. Though it was not a normal request for Bellah, she agreed to help and I am so thankful because I really needed it lol It was a joy working with her and I so appreciated her quick communication, professionalism, ability to give context in a way I understood easily, and help get the project completed quickly. It was a big success and I also got to benefit from learning the basics of French as well. 10/10 would recommend!

Today I had my first French lesson. The instructor was very patient, skilled in the language and…read moremade our time together fun and relevant to everyday life. I am very "2nd language" challenged but excited to learn French with her help and looking forward to my next session.