I have had years with learning languages and with having my children and nieces learn languages in different language schools or programs, so I have experience knowing the difference between good and poor instruction, and excellent and horrible business practice. Unfortunately for Language Door -Encino, I have received service that is less than desirable from the newest reception staff at Language Door- Encino. The previous staff in the Fall of 2014 were amazingly helpful, communicative, and sent emails and phone calls whenever anything was in question, or to communicate information. The NEW Spring 2015 staff, however, leaves a VERY BAD TASTE in my mouth. Not only is the receptionist during the weekdays absolutely rude and dismissive, she refuses to allow for us to make direct contact with the owners or settle the issue through them. My child was in a class with another child that ran as a small group weekly on the weekends. When the other child could not return to the class, it opened up one spot. We were told initially that if the class of two children could continue on Saturdays, the other language instructor would be happy to take that class on. I recruited another child into the Language Door program for the same language at around the same beginning level. He started an ADULT class mid-session with only 3 sessions left. He knows my son and was happier with doing the same class with my son during the weekends, which would not only accommodate his schedule, it would also allow him to FILL the EMPTY SPOT in the language class that was to have met on Saturdays at 9 am. The main receptionist refused to budge when both of us contacted her with this idea of having our boys study together on Saturday. She stated that she refused to allow for another Teen class on Saturday, even though she had originally been the person to state that there would be that allowance for a Teen class on Saturdays with my son. The main receptionist added, "We only opened it to you and the other child in order for him to come back." Excuse me? If it had not been for OUR FAMILY, this other NEW teenager would not have learned about the Language Door-Encino and he would have NOT joined. Having this class on the weekends for both boys will allow for our kids to learn the language, but also, to RETAIN YOUR CUSTOMERS without having bad reviews on the Internet exist that will inevitably overshadow any of the good instruction that exists in at the Language Door. There are so many problems that have existed since the hiring of the newest receptionists/managers at Language Door-Encino, including not communicating the class times correctly with the families who were involved. I perplexed as to how the Encino Office can run so badly and still have enough income to exist. I must point out that not only am I having issue with the Encino Langauge Door office, I have spent my spare time trying to contact the owner Natascha Damman and also Frank, who apparently run the Language Door from Irvine. Apart from writing to them on FB, which I will only do as a last resort, I have already left multiple messages at the Irvine office. I have a feeling that my messages are not reaching the owners at all and would like for them to contact me to resolve these issues. I am not certain if this will be resolved, but I do know this: Our family is well-known for being busy, involved in the community, and in touch with many students and families who refer to us for advice on schools, activities, sports, and more recently, language instruction -- as many schools now are not offering languages. As much as I would love to give kudos for a patient, educated, and lovely instructor (the one that we had in the Fall and Winter), I am reluctant to make any recommendation to attend ANY class at Language Door-ENCINO due to its ill-mannered, negative, and non-responsive administrative staff. I had high hopes for Language Door-Encino especially during the better months with the previous staff members, who were communicative and mindful that this was both a school and a business. If the current staff has managed to do anything, it has been successful in making me SHUDDER at thinking about contacting them again or even referring the numerous families who have only this week asked if they knew of teachers who taught specific languages that do not currently have a Saturday Language school, and one that would allow for their ids and teens to join. Language Door- ENCINO has casted so much doubt in my mind about whether or not I should return, and unfortunately is influencing those who wished to have studied with my son on the weekends. I doubt that that child will return after this session is finished unless the Language Door can accommodate our boys' request to be in class together. Language Door-Encino - You are a language broker. If your teachers are good, but your reception is unwilling to hear our concerns as paying customers, you will lose our patronage. read more