Learn Spanish With Ina

0.3 mi

I have two kids enrolled in this Spanish program in Piedmont. Teachers come and go, no continuity…read more Went through 4 teachers by the end of the year. And to top it off!!!! My son was made to be "a piñata" where the teacher proceeded to encourage students to HIT my son, as he just laughed in FEAR. When his older brother tried to step in, the teacher told him to move. How disgusting!!!!!!! Never sending my kids to this horrendous Spanish class!!!!!!! AWFUL PROGRAM

Our daughter began attending after school classes at Viva when she was in the the third grade. She…read moreenjoyed the music and singing and warmed to the kindness of the teaching staff. Learning Spanish through immersion was natural. She continued going to Viva through the 8th grade. By the time she entered high school she was able to place into 3rd year Spanish. She continued Spanish through high school (through her school) and was able to (and proud of) being able to write essays (in Spanish) about the Spanish literature she had studied. During one summer in high school she had the opportunity to travel to visit friends who lived in Bolivia. The flight attendants honestly thought she was a native speaker -- because of her accent. Learning (and listening) and having the gentle corrections made while she was younger made a difference in her being able to properly pronounce the language. Thank you, Viva!

Making fruit salad and singing in Spanish

Messy pre-school art project!

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Making a mural and learning about the rain forest - en español!

Walnut Creek Toastmasters

4.9

4.4 mi

Toastmasters has literally changed the way that I communicate professionally and personally, as…read morewell as enhanced and improved my leadership abilities. I thought that this was just a public speaking club when I finally joined 2 years ago! Little did I know that I would gain the courage to stand up and speak in front of my peers, thanks to the supportive environment in this club, as well as learn how to think quickly on my feet, and become a better leader. This particular club was a great starting point for me, as the people are friendly and nice, the membership base is a younger demographic than other Toastmasters Clubs in the area, and there is no pressure to speak if you do not want to get up in front of a small audience just yet. An added bonus is that I have made friends in the club, as well as recruited my friends outside of the club to join in the fun. Yes, it's FUN to give prepared and impromptu speeches, to give evaluations of other people's speeches, and to become a club officer to collaborate with fellow club members. The new location at The Kensington is stellar! It's no wonder that two other Toastmasters Clubs also meet here. It's clean, well-lit, has lots of seating and tables, a good speaking space, and its own side entrance. I highly recommend Toastmasters as an organization, and this club specifically. Don't wait to gain confidence! If you want to impress hiring managers at job interviews, learn how to respond quickly to questions out-of-the blue, learn how to give presentations at work, or just want to network and socialize while learning new skills, check out Toastmasters!

I have been a part of the Toastmasters community for the last 5 years and it has truly been an…read moreincredible ride. The fact that we have the opportunity to not only improve our communication skills, but also enhance our leadership capabilities makes for a valuable experience. The Walnut Creek Toastmasters club has been around for 10 years, and you can tell by the veteran members who have been with the club since its inception that it will be around for 10 more. These members are the ones who's passion inspires you to improve your communication and leadership skills to eventually meet their level. I agree that this club still has room to grow, but I feel confident in its future and I see a lot of new members coming in with a lot of enthusiasm to improve. I can't wait to see how this year pans out and I am excited for the future of this club! :)

2013 Club Photo where members show off their Toastmasters Manuals about communication and leadership skills

Speak in front of a small, supportive, and friendly group

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Our meeting location

Seve Morris - French Language Coach

(2 reviews)

1.5 mi

Whether you want to prepare for a vacation in France, tune up your high school/college French, or…read morejust want to start from the beginning, Sève will work with you toward your goals. I began private lessons to dust off my high school French and have since added a conversation class. Because Sève uses an ever changing variety of teaching methods, I look forward to these classes every week. She is dynamic, fun, and, thankfully, very patient. Bonne chance!

Séverine has been my French teacher for almost 3 years. I have been her student in a formal…read moreclassroom setting at a local adult education center for 2 years. I have also participated in both conversation groups and one-to-one tutoring from her own classroom. Because she is from France, she is able to teach you French the way the French speak it currently. We study French grammar, vocabulary, culture, and music, as well as the geography of France in addition to practicing our speaking, listening (comprehension), and reading skills in French. Séverine is very personable with a great sense of humor. She really knows how to make learning fun. She is adept at teaching people of all ages. Whether you want to start learning French or need to brush up on it, Séverine can help you achieve your French language goals. Highly recommend!

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Academy of Language & Music Arts-Alma

Parents, please do not send your poor children here. They take your money and have no…read morequalifications to teach anything. I wouldn't even allow these people to pet sit let along try to educate. I sent my child here for close to a year to learn piano and she learned nothing. Here are my main concerns: 1) teacher showed up 10 minutes late every time for 30 mins session and of course they continued to charge me for the full session 2) they try to teach using technology but their Wi-Fi is down. Therefore the rest of the class they spend trying to figure out how to connect to Wi-Fi which first hand observing, was painful. 3) the place is owned by a clown with the biggest ego. I went in there to watch my child after realizing that the sessions were not helping her at all. The clown that owns this place was fumbling around trying to get tech support to turn his computer on. He refers to himself as a "doctor" which further shows what a narcissistic clown he is. He also was upset that I hadn't been in there before to introduce myself to him. I don't think the moron realizes that parents have to work to pay for extracurricular activities like his clown school. He literally was offended that I didn't come in to introduce myself!? 4) the pianos and other instruments looked like they were picked up at the local dump. I can't sing and I am more tuned than the piano my poor daughter was trying to learn on. 5) the worst part is that I asked them to cancel my daughters sessions. That night I noticed that he had gone in and quickly charged our credit card for next month. What a crook and phony. Horrible place disguised as a teaching institute.

Don't send your kids here. Angry owner in attack mode:…read more I had an appointment in the building of 99 Brookwood Rd, Orinda, CA 94563. The person I had an appointment with told me that I could park in the ATMA/ALMA spaces. My dad dropped me off and wanted to wait for me, so I told him to park in one of the ATMA/ALMA spaces since he would be waiting for an hour and could take a nap if he wanted. When I was done with my appointment, I walked to my dad's car and we got ready to leave. We saw a car stopped on the street and thought the driver was waiting for the space. After we pulled out of the parking space, that driver waved my dad down and got out of his car. I thought, "oh, maybe we didn't close all the doors in our car and he was trying to be nice." Not the case. This man, while blocking traffic, walked towards my dad and took a photo, then started yelling that we can't park there and that we were disturbing the businesses. My dad doesn't speak fluent English, so he told me to explain to the man what we were doing there. I got out of the car to tell the man that I was here for an appointment in the building and was told that I could park in one of those spaces. That man did not stop yelling to hear my explanation. He continued to yell that it was his spot. There was no point to this, so my dad and I got back in our car and drove off. I called the person I had an appointment with and found out that the man who yelled at us was the landlord of the building. He received a complaint from a tenant, SaraBella (florist), who described my dad as a creepy man walking around. My dad was stretching and admiring the scenery outside of his car while waiting for me, nowhere near the florist, minding his own business. No one, not the florist nor the landlord, talked to us and just assumed that we did not belong. We were judged by our appearance and treated unfairly. What happened to my dad and me happens to many people and I'm not going to be silent about it. His name is Dr. James Fiatarone, aka Dr. Jim. He is a landlord and a music teacher at the Academy of Language & Music Arts (ALMA), located in that same building. Stated on his webpage, "James is a Bay Area native who holds a Ph.D. in language and literature from the University of California, Berkeley". I expect better language and understanding from someone with such esteemed credentials, at the very least a common decency to speak maturely. Instead of introducing himself as the landlord and seeking to understand, Dr. Jim chose to block traffic and cause a scene in order to exercise his own judgment and bias. I want to get my message out and let him know that the way he conducted himself is not okay, especially in a place of business.

Front outside

Side front outside

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Acalanes Adult Education

3.8

3.0 mi

The beginner flower arranging class I signed up to take was very disappointing. I stopped after one…read moreclass for these and other reasons. The instructor used a pre-recorded YouTube video to show us how to make our arrangement! And she didn't even make sure the flowers/supplies she provided to us , at an inflated cost, matched on the ones in the video (she admitted the greens in her video were wrong). The flowers/supplies she made us purchase from her were much cheaper (e.g., carnations vs. roses). I don't know why she didn't provide a live demonstration and do so with the right flowers, etc. That's why we signed up for the class! I knew something was very wrong when she began the class by reading her written course description out loud, even referring to herself in the third person (e.g., "Supplies and tools are available from your instructor"). The class is for beginners, but the arrangements in her "textbook" are SOO pedestrian (see photos). She could show students much more appealing arrangements to make. Another problem was that the class had a combination of new students and returning students (those who wanted a flower arrangement certificate). The returning students had their own projects, so there were two classes going on at the same time, which made it hard to focus. The school district's unfair policy is that refunds are available only before first day of class, so be aware before you register!

Great teachers, great curriculum, nice environment, safe, learning lots, meeting people all over…read morethe world!

Beautiful Acalanes Campus

Campus

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EFBA French Education in the Bay Area

(1 review)

1.4 mi

This is my child's second year with EFBA in Alameda. She loves her Francophone teacher, Angelique,…read moreand her French skills have improved even beyond my expectation. The teacher to student ratio is very excellent, and the other children are good classmates. I highly recommend these French classes.

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ABC Reading Center

(6 reviews)

0.2 mi

Christine is amazing!! So happy we decided to hire her to tutor our 6 year old with his reading. We…read moremoved to Lafayette over the summer and received feedback from my son's 1st grade teacher that his reading was below grade level. We is a young 1st grader, a middle child, and had been in a french school environment, so it was not a surprise for anyone. The teacher didn't think we needed to seek outside help just yet, but I decided to see how a session with Christine went anyways. We got into a routine and have been seeing her weekly for the past 6 months. My son LOVES Christine days!! And.. he is now beyond 1st grade reading level. More importantly, he is confident with his reading and really enjoys it. Thank you Christine!!

Just to update - my son is now entering his senior year at a private college prep high school. He…read morehas a 3.9 GPA, is applying to colleges across the country, and always has stacks of books next to his bed, despite being very dyslexic. I credit the many hours he spent with Christine as critical in our journey. Early intervention makes an enormous difference. If your child is struggling with reading - seek intervention and make a life altering difference in your child's life.

ABC Reading Center

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Christine LaFaille

Cometa Learning Center

(3 reviews)

13.7 mi

Cometa's summer camp is truly one of a kind and we are so glad we got to be part of the very first…read moregroup of campers. Our son, age 7, did a one-week summer camp session and loved it. Like LOVED IT. I am writing this at the end of the week because my son was demanding I cancel next week's camp somewhere else so he can go back to Cometa. They have great hours, well-planned days with lots of opportunities to learn and practice Spanish, daily outings using their vans (the outings were very fun for our kiddo), and home cooked meals and snacks. Our kid did the "cooking" week and he was truly transformed by it. I think the staff did a great job choosing simple recipes that were delicious too and were very patient and caring during the lesson. Everyday they made something new and that was super fun. We are so happy with the staff, they were very professional and child-centered, and exuded warmth and a sense of belonging for the little ones. We plan to come back next summer and for other camps during the school year. They do aftercare too, but we're based in San Leandro so that doesn't work for us. Nevertheless, their afterschool program sounds really wonderful too.

My kid has been in this program since it first opened, and we're so glad we gave it a shot. After…read moreswitching schools, we needed a new after-school option and found out about this new bilingual program. It's been great! We speak both English and Spanish at home, but my kid wasn't really picking up much Spanish until she joined. Since then, her Spanish vocabulary has grown tremendously. She really loves going and always looks forward to it. Plus, the school pick-up has been super easy with no problems at all. We also participated in their summer program and loved that the kids were getting exposed to different settings like a ranch and my child loved seeing chickens and horses. I'd definitely recommend this program to other families!

Working in homework

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Little Genius Academy

4.7

(60 reviews)

3.0 mi

My son is at LGA for over a year now and I love this school. I love the app updates showing his…read morepotty times, nap times, meals and school activities. To our surprise, many schools do not use an app. The extracurricular activities are so engaging - I like that they bring an outside coach to engage the kids in sports, Mr. George for music, and Ms Brittany for reading. The meals are also great. My son is open to eating a variety of food as a result of the meals serve at the school. In terms of academics, my almost 4 year old can count to 40, knows the ABCs and write his name. All in all, LGA makes life easy for parents, especially working parents. Even the morning drop off procedures are so quick and seamless. Between my older daughter and son, we've been at multiple schools in the area and I can say that LGA is our favorite.

My little one started at LGA a couple months ago and honestly I could not have asked for a better…read moreplace! The facility is very clean, spacious and the workers are warm, welcoming and nothing short of excellent. The team keeps the kiddos busy with many activities such as art, music class, sensory activities and more. Their aim is to ensure that the children are in a fun and positive environment while learning and growing every day. My favorite part of LGA is that they use modern day technology to keep you updated on your child all throughout the day. You receive hourly updates on what meals they are serving your child, updates when their diaper is being changed, nap time as well as photos of your kiddo. Even though you may be spending hours away from your child - Their system is amazing and really keeps you updated on everything. I love it! The price for childcare now a-days is pretty expensive no matter where you go - But if your child is spending more time here than their home, you should want them to be in the safest and best environment. LGA is a place where we don't have to worry, our child absolutely loves going there and it's really hard to find a place who will beat their quality and care. 10/10 recommend!!

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Nanny's House Child Care & Preschool

4.8

(24 reviews)

0.6 mi

My daughter attended Nanny's House for two years before starting kindergarten, and we couldn't have…read moreasked for a better experience. Marta is amazing, so loving, caring, and truly invested in the children. My daughter always looked forward to going, made great friends (both boys and girls), and not once said, "I don't want to go to school." I love that Nanny's House is play-based but also incorporates academics, reading, music, art, and plenty of outdoor time. Thanks to Marta's guidance my daughter was already reading before kindergarten began. I highly recommend visiting Nanny's House and meeting Marta. You'll see right away why it's such a special place.

Our daughter started at Nanny's house when she was 3 months old. When I was 4 months pregnant with…read moreher I started researching facilities and make sure they were highly rated by the county. You'd be surprised how many come up with one violation or another. Nanny's house was violation free. I interviewed with Nanny (Marta) at her old location. There was instant chemistry. She has this organic and warm feel about her exuding positive energy. She has such a love for children and animals. She has a small and super sweet dog and maintains chickens in a chicken coop feeding the children fresh and organic eggs in the morning. There was a wait list but we made it through as we planned in advance. When we got in, it was like getting into Harvard... our first choice school! When I was at the hospital after giving birth, she sent a sweet care package of flowers, a balloon and a teddy bear for our little girl. Such a nice touch! What school does that? Our daughter spent all years leading up to kindergarten there, even into the pandemic. She worked so hard to keep everyone safe and healthy. It was a crazy time, but always her mind was on how can she protect the children. She was open to feedback and worked to customize her program to meet families on preferences. She has a life sciences program that's outstanding. The kids not only learn all the fundamentals in the classroom, but the learn to garden, they learn about life cycles, they learn cooking (supervised of course). Most importantly they learn how to manage emotions and social interactions. We also had our son join Nanny's House when our daughter was 3 years old. He also joined at 3 months of age. The infant program has a maximum of 4 babies in it all 3 months to 1 year 11 months. With the location being her home, it doesn't have an institutional style feel. I live nearby and as he was a baby during pre-covid, I was allowed to come by to nurse in person when I needed to. The family get togethers were some of my favorite memories at Nanny's house and I still stay in touch with the other families to this day. Halloween and her Christmas holiday party were a blast, along with a formal graduation celebration. One thing I helped Nanny's house bring into the program is a mobile app called Kidz Note that updates the families on what is going on each day in the classroom or infant room. She provides photos each day and often videos. Her reports let's you know what's going on with eating or and if there are any boo boo reports. It also allows for parent-teacher communication. We treasure our memories at Nanny's House. Our daughter still talks about Nanny's House to this day and wants to visit soon. For anyone who is looking for a very personal full time daycare and preschool experience with long hours 7:30a - 6p with all meals covered, this one's for you!

Planning a garden and watching it grow together.

Singing for Santa 2017

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Singing with Nanny and Mrs. clause breakfast with Santa 2017

Creative Montessori Preschool & Daycare

(22 reviews)

3.7 mi

Our son has been with Creative since he was just 6 months old, and we couldn't be happier with our…read moreexperience. Silvia and the entire staff treat him like family, which gives us so much peace of mind while we're away. Their love and dedication truly shine through. Since joining Creative, our son has flourished in so many ways--physically, emotionally, and in his speech development. Now, at 20 months, he amazes us daily with new words and songs he's learned, as well as important life skills like picking up his toys and throwing things in the trash. The learning environment they provide is incredible! Beyond his development, we've also noticed how social and personable he has become, which we largely credit to the nurturing and interactive atmosphere at Creative. We are so grateful for Silvia and the entire team for fostering such a loving and enriching space for our son. Thank you, Silvia!

My son started at Creative Montessori at age 3.5 years old. Due to Covid he had been home the whole…read moretime and spoke no English prior to attending school. Ms Silvia and other teachers have been so patient and helpful. My son has grown so much in every aspect and loves going to school every day. Highly recommend.

Preschool & Pre-K playground

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Gan Ilan

(17 reviews)

0.5 mi

We've been part of the Gan Ilan community for the past three years, and it's hard to put into words…read morejust how special it is. Our son spent two wonderful years here before transitioning to public elementary school, and now our daughter is thriving after a year in the toddler program (she started at 18 months). What makes this preschool stand out is its truly play-based philosophy and the emphasis on outdoor time. The kids spend so much time exploring the beautiful property--rain or shine--and it's clear how much they learn through play and nature. And I so appreciate how they come home happy, fulfilled, and absolutely exhausted every day! The teachers are absolutely incredible. They are warm, attentive, and deeply invested in the kids' growth and well-being. Our son grew in every way during his time here--physically, emotionally, socially--and we watched his confidence blossom. But more than anything, we're grateful for the community. Through this school, we've made lifelong friendships with other families, and our kids have formed strong, joyful bonds with their peers. It's a place where children and parents alike feel connected, supported, and engaged. We couldn't imagine a better place for our kids to begin their educational journey.

We have two children now at Gan Ilan and we have had such a positive experience. The teachers are…read morewarm, knowledgeable and communicative. The kids spend so much time engaged in creative play, especially outside in the garden. The school makes a wonderful effort to build community among families and we have made so many close friends. We are so happy with the quality of this school and its Jewish programming and will certainly be staying there when our next child is ready to start preschool.

Our summer camp kiddos, ages 18 months through 5 years, will be having so much fun in the sun next month! Sign-ups are still available.

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Daily activities

Old Firehouse School

4.1

(19 reviews)

0.6 mi

Old Firehouse School is Exceptional!…read more We sent both of our children to OFS after moving to Lafayette, and it was a wonderful experience for our family. The dedication of the staff is truly what sets this school apart. We especially valued the model where teachers, like Liz, Pam, and Zahara, continue to work with the students as they grow. This consistency and the deep care they show for the children is evident every day. Our kids absolutely loved their teachers. We are huge fans of their kid-led, project-based learning approach. It allows the students to drive their own education. Just as important is their focus on emotional education--teaching kids practical ways to understand and manage their feelings, which is a key skill for life. Alex and Michelle are fantastic leaders, and the entire team deserves praise. We have nothing but great things to say about OFS and highly recommend it.

I have had at least one child at OFS since 2021. It is an incredible community and the director…read moreAlex is a thoughtful, bright, measured, and caring leader. We have loved all the teachers we've worked with and were first drawn to OFS because of the Reggio Emilio method they practice. This approach centers around a single primary caregiver for the majority of a child's time at the school. Our oldest has come out of OFS with incredible social emotional skills as a result of this model. We still have our son there and will be sad the day we have to leave. This is not the closest school to our home, but we trust the staff and we can't imagine going anywhere else.

Our Cozy little Nap Room

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

20 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Brian R.

2 years ago

I have had the pleasure of being tutored by Ina for a few months now and I can confidently say it has been a great experience. One of the most commendable aspects of Ina's approach is her personalized teaching style. She takes the time to understand my strengths and weaknesses, tailoring each lesson to suit my learning pace and preferences. This personalized attention has made me feel valued as a student and helped me progress much more rapidly than I ever could have imagined. Ina's explanations are always clear, concise, and backed by a solid understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. I have been able to grasp complex concepts through her patient guidance and effective teaching methods. Ina is accommodating and flexible with scheduling, which was a huge relief for someone with a busy lifestyle like mine. They were always punctual, reliable, and approachable, creating a comfortable learning environment where I felt encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification without hesitation. I highly recommend Ina to anyone seeking to learn or improve their Spanish skills. Thanks to Ina, I have not only gained proficiency in Spanish but also developed a lifelong love for the language and its rich cultural heritage. read more

Joel K.

13 years ago

I've never particularly enjoyed trying to learn a second language (in school, using Rosetta Stone, etc.). A friend recommended that I try learning Spanish one-on-one with a local tutor, and I saw that Cristina (Ina) has good Yelp reviews, so I decided to give her a try. Her first language is Spanish, and she speaks fluent English, too (with a cool Spanish accent), so I find it easy to relate to her language-wise. And as a tutor, she's perfect for someone like me - friendly, gentle, patient, understanding, and very likeable. There's no 'pressure' to learn - she guides me at a pace that's perfect for me, and I'm actually learning to understand and speak Spanish! (Yes, that deserves an exclamation point.) So do I recommend Ina? Without any hesitation, absolutely - just please don't book her entire schedule - I need my appointments with her, too - gracias :-) read more

Richard Z.

12 years ago

This is the first review I have ever written on any site. I just had to do it here...... Christina absolutely came to the rescue with my daughter over the last few months. She went from an F to a C+ (and it likely would have been higher if we had more time. She got a B+ on her final.) I liked her no nonsense approach together with a warm "can do" attitude. She worked together with my daughter's classroom teacher to make sure everyone was on the same page. She always gave me feedback and most important, she gave my child the calming confidence she needed and made her feel good about what she was doing. I could not endorse her more strongly. I give "Learing Spanish with Ina" an A+ read more

Lisa B.

13 years ago

Cristina tutored me in Spanish since it had been over 20 years since I last studied the language in college. My current position requires me to be bi-lingual and within two months time Cristina had me speaking fluently enough in Spanish that my supervisor at work even took notice of how much progress I had made in such a short amount of time. I love the comfort of going to her home for lessons because the atmosphere is so relaxed and non intimidating. She makes herself available if I should need to contact her via email or Skype. I highly recommend Cristina to anyone who is looking to improve their Spanish. Fun,enjoyable, and a great learning experience. Lisa B. read more

Martha C.

9 years ago

Recently retired, I met Ina (Cristina) in September 2016. We have a second home in Baja and I decided it was time I learned to speak Spanish. I see Ina twice a week. Ina's knowledge of the Spanish and English language is excellent. She adapts her instructing to your needs whether it is preparing for a trip to a Spanish speaking country or in my case the desire to communicate with the locals in Baja. Ina is knowledgeable, entertaining, creative and very flexible. She even does lessons via Skype or FaceTime when I travel. I still have a lot to learn but because of Ina's help I feel so much more comfortable communicating in Spanish. read more

Sparkle M.

27 days ago

I cannot recommend Learn Spanish with Ina highly enough. My 12-year-old daughter has been taking weekly lessons, and the progress she has made is remarkable. Thanks to Ina's patience and dedication, my daughter is not only able to speak Spanish confidently, but can also read and write it with ease. Ina has a gift for teaching and creates a supportive, encouraging environment that makes learning enjoyable. She truly cares about her students and goes above and beyond to help them succeed. We feel incredibly fortunate to have her in our lives--she has made a lasting impact on my daughter's education and confidence. read more

Helena J.

10 years ago

Cristina "Ina" is a true language professional. I have taken language lessons in the past with other tutors who were just native speakers, not teachers, trying to earn extra money. This is not the case with Ina. Ina is a genuine language teacher who knows how to teach Spanish. I have never been a good student of languages, but Ina makes the experience almost painless. She is very patient, accommodating, and understanding, as well as concise and knowledgeable. Also, she is prompt and quickly responds to all correspondence. I'd recommend her to anyone studying Spanish in the East Bay. read more

Cindy L.

12 years ago

Ina is a very good teacher. I had very little knowledge of Spanish and knew even less about correct grammar usage, such as when to use esta, estan, estas, estar or estoy. Ina is teaching me a good foundation that I can build on. She cares for her students and this comes across in her ability to teach to the individual. She is patient, which is important to me. She is friendly and enthusiastic. By the time I go to Mexico and then later to Argentina (where Ina is from!) I will have learned enough Spanish to make my trip even better. read more

Debbie M.

10 years ago

I feel very grateful to have worked with Cristina. She has been the best tutor my son has ever had. My son felt comfortable working with her and she always did a wonderful job communicating with me. Cristina is very professional and skilled in what she does while making it obvious that she cares about her clients. My son enjoyed his meetings with her and grew in his knowledge of Spanish. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to learn or improve their Spanish. read more

Gary Y.

13 years ago

Cristina tutored me Spanish for three years and it has helped me so much in school and in social events. In school I was getting C's on all of my tests and assignments and after a couple months with Cristina she helped me boost my grade from a C to an A. CHECK OUT HER WEBSITE: www.buendiaina.com Cons: The only disadvantage I could think of would be that she doesn't come to your home. You have to come to her house. read more

Beth N.

9 years ago

I was terrified of attempting to learn Spanish. I held off on signing up for a class for a really long time. I was so glad to find Ina who patiently teaches one on one, at my pace. She has been friendly and welcoming since the beginning and has made each class fun but challenging. Ina is a great Spanish teacher and I'd recommend her to anyone looking to learn the language. read more

Melanie Rose S.

13 years ago

My daughter who goes to Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek has taken Spanish from Cristina who seemed very helpful because her grades have improved dramatically. She is very funny, provides lots of homework and keeps me updated via email about what she teaches my daughter in class and most importantly my child likes her. Melanie S. read more

Eric A.

10 years ago

I read a recent poor review (the only one) on Ina's site and am really surprised. I can't imagine her reacting that way--she was polite and patient every time I met with her. Maybe she and this client can clear up what was apparently a misunderstanding and resume an arrangement that was working well. read more

Daniella R.

13 years ago

Christina tutored me in Spanish for a year. She knows how to teach and goes beyond tutoring. She is very professional and you get her undivided attention during the lesson. I would recommend her to anyone who needs help with passing a Spanish class or just wants to learn Spanish. read more

P. Michael L.

13 years ago

I have taken many lessons from Cristina. She's tough but very good. Sometimes the homework can be difficult, but she always helps me get through it. A great instructor, and fun to learn from. I highly recommend her to anyone having problems, or just starting out, as i was. read more

D O.

8 years ago

Ina is an excellent Spanish teacher. She will tailor the class to your level of experience and objectives. As her student my spoken and written Spanish have improved considerably as has my listening comprehension. I look froward to studying with Ina further. read more

L T.

13 years ago

Have taken Spanish with Cristina for several years. She is patient and super attentive! I can now speak, read and write in Spanish!! I would recommend her to anyone interested in learning the language or improving their skills. She is the best! read more

Gary M.

14 years ago

Ina is a very dedicated teacher. It is obvious she cares for her students. Having experience at Berlitz has given her the tools to teach Spanish. It takes a lot of work to learn another language so one needs all the help he can get. read more

Zoe G.

13 years ago

Cristina is smart and experienced on what she does, has tons of workbooks and worksheets that she uses to make you understand spanish grammar,she is also super fun and friendly. Zoe read more

Randall C.

12 years ago

Ina had 60 days to coach me into enough Spanish to enjoy my trip to Argentina. Her patient and focused teaching added greatly to the success of my trip. read more

Learn Spanish With Ina - language_schools - Updated July 2026

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Viva el Espanol

4.0

KSS Immersion Preschool of Walnut Creek

(26 reviews)

I'd like to start off by saying that the maestras at KSS Walnut Creek are amazing. This was our…read moredaughter's first experience in a "school" setting and we sincerely appreciate the maestras and the role they had with her transition to life outside of home. We will be forever grateful for them. In my book, they are 5 stars. Unfortunately, their hard work was overshadowed by the greedy private equity ownership and administration. Just days before priority re-enrollment began, they sent a very confusing letter explaining a tuition hike which equates to a $745 increase per month, or roughly 48% more than the prior year, without any warning. I understand that this is a private school and they have the right to do whatever they want but the way they went about it and their reasoning for it was manipulative. They stated that they have been running losses since 2019 and that they needed to increase tuition to appropriately compensate their maestras, make capital improvements, and create a K-5 program which won't benefit this campus. (If they've been running losses for the last 3-4 years, why wasn't there a heads up a year before the increase? Why not spread the increase over multiple years? How are there losses with maestra salaries historically low, free money from families that paid tuition in full without sending their kids to school during Covid, and free Covid money from the government?) The new coat of paint "capital improvements" and maestras' benefits (pay increase, 401k, etc.) pale in comparison to the amount of the tuition increase. It's nice that they are now implementing a 401k with a company match but at the rate they are being paid, they won't be able to invest much, if any. Looking at recent job postings, it doesn't appear that the tuition increase is actually benefiting the maestras. I have no problem with paying the maestras more, but when asked how the tuition increase directly correlates to maestra salary increases, they didn't provide a clear answer. They also instituted a penalty for not paying the entire year's tuition up front. I've never, nor will I, pay in full for services not yet rendered with no recourse to be reimbursed in the event that something happens. The worst part about all of this is that it hurts the maestras and families the most. My daughter, and many other kids who will not return next year, have built relationships with the maestras and their peers and now have to transition to a new school. If you are considering this school, I urge you to proceed with caution, eyes wide open, look at the contract in detail, and check the Yelp reviews on the other Bay Area KSS campuses. If anyone is interested in more information please feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to share all the information/documentation I have.

We love the KSS program and teachers. We started our daughter at 2.5 and loved our teachers in the…read more2's program and now the 3's program. It been amazing to watch our daughter learn Spanish through the immersion. All these years in school I wondered why public schools didn't start teaching language until 7th grade. We're so happy that our daughter is able to start this engagement at 2. The teachers are so warm, engaging and caring of our children. I'm amazed at the energy they greet us with each and every day.

My Spanish Village Preschool & Daycare

3.7

(28 reviews)

I can't say enough positive words for My Spanish Village (MSV). Our ten year old attended several…read morepreschools and elementary schools due to family moves. We looked at many preschools for our three year old before choosing MSV. Most of the others were chaotic, mad houses, zoo's where the kids were bouncing off walls, out of control and the rooms were quite dirty. MSV classes are so structured, pleasant, calm and clean. Our little ones face lights up every day when she get's her morning, welcome hug from Maestra Ingrid and when she see's the other kids. Not only will your child love MSV, but you'll love dropping them child off. It's the best way to start my day as I walk away warm, knowing she's in loving, amazing and competent hands. I can't imagine a better, more structured or loving preschool experience. We're so lucky to have found MSV and appreciate them so much.

My Spanish Village and Maestra Ita and her staff are simply amazing! They are all so caring and…read moreloving, and the curriculum is so enriching on all levels. My child loved going there: preschool, TK, and the after school cooking/art/ceramics class. I wish the school went through high school!

Acalanes Adult Education

3.8

Great teachers, great curriculum, nice environment, safe, learning lots, meeting people all over…read morethe world!

Sabine Becker Weimann Tutoring

(3 reviews)

She is very good teacher She is very patient and knowledgeable…read more My son loved her lesson We had have only one lesson because of distance and traffic I wish she would be closer to us But I would definitely recommend her

Out of all the tutors I've had in my life Becker-Weimann has been by far the most helpful. Sabine…read moreis extremely patient and truly wants you to understand the topic. I've always had difficulty in mathematics and science but she has provided me with so much understanding for the subjects. I always feel like I'm improving when we study together. I really appreciate all the help she has been providing me with. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her support during test time.

Kurumi Japanese Class

(4 reviews)

My daughter is in the toddler class at kurumi and she loves going to Japanese class more than she…read morelikes going to preschool! The teacher to student ratio is amazing (like 1 teacher/assistant teacher to 2-3 students). Everyone speaks Japanese, so my daughter's Japanese improved significantly since she started taking classes there a year ago. They receive homework, so my 3 year old can write pretty well now! The teachers also are very thoughtful about curriculum planning and they always have crafting projects in class and they also teach students about the Japanese culture. I would highly recommend kurumi!

An Absolute treasure! Our son has thrived here learning his own language and culture. I rate the…read moreschool and staff 10 out of 10 over the four years.

Choice in Learning Montessori

4.9

(14 reviews)

My child attended CiL for a little over a year before going to kindergarten and during a trying…read moretime for the site as there was not only Covid in full force, with a population not eligible for vaccines, but the nonprofit which runs the school was about to embark on a large renovation/building project at the site. We had a great experience with the teachers and really appreciated the safety focus they had for the kids. Though we didnt get to benefit from it, I really like the association with the Choice in Aging senior services next door and could see that being a real plus for everyone in the future when things calm down. They have moved the preschool to a different area of the site temporarily to prepare for a multiphase construction and it looks really nice. The site will benefit from wholesale renovation as it is aged. I went 4 stars because of things independent of the care of the kids, basically the administrative aspects (pricing, planning, communication, etc) were frustrating. I would not hesitate to send my child there again but be prepared to have some frustrating moments.

We really love this school. It's a real gem…read more We had our daughter in a different school and after a year, we decided to just look around to see what else was out there. We knew this was our school just when we visited. Our daughter loved it so much she cried when we left. The teachers, Ms. Jan, Ms. Christine, Ms. Sharyn, and Ms. Manya are all amazing and have been there forever. Many of the teachers have sent their own kids there. The classes are so calm and organized and our daughter is just thriving. She has learned so much - she's coming home singing songs in Spanish and talking about map activities they are doing. She loves to play circle time with her teddies. Ms. Gina, the director, is so on it and clearly loves the kids. She's very responsive and organized. They just moved into a brand new addition to the building which is beautiful. It is well-thought out and impressively organized. They are also really COVID conscious which I've super appreciated. We feel so grateful we found this place. It's made all of our lives so much better. Couldn't recommend more.

Happy Little Faces

4.3

(6 reviews)

Maestra Roxana is just as amazing, she teaches the older toddlers…read more gracias, Happy little Faces

Look no further for organized, communicative, warm and welcoming care for your little one. I had 3…read morekids attend HLF Spanish Immersion Daycare Center and I couldn't be more grateful for Carolina and her team. Many pros include Spanish immersion, delicious home-cooked meals and snacks, beautifully-curated indoor and outdoor areas, diverse group of children from all over CoCo County, thoughtful curriculum for all ages and developmental stages, and wonderfully engaging activities and monthly/seasonal themes. We also loved the various events throughout the year like the Holiday Pageant and the Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat. Our family couldn't be more grateful for the care our children received from HLF from their opening in 2020 until 2023! Center is always clean, organized, and kid-focused. The staff are reliable and trustworthy. And I'll never forget the special graduation ceremony held for my post-COVID graduates :) My kids were ready for Kindergarten both academically and socially and they still treasure memories and friendships from their HLF days. Another bonus is they offer occasional Parents Night Out babysitting events that are open to currently enrolled kids and alumni. Only, very tiny cons include: They hold a very high tolerance for badly-behaved children, some of which become physically violent. My children told us stories of kids who would throw toys and push and hurt other children, but there seemed to be no reprocussion because the poorly-behaved children still attend the school. Also, my kids mentioned a few instances of being teased and seeing others teased by the owner's son and he didn't receive any discipline or redirection. Not deal-breakers by any means, but want to give a 100% honest review. Overall, would I recommend HLF? ABSOLUTELY and without hesitation.

Mathnasium of Walnut Creek

(22 reviews)

We had heard good things about Mathnasium from a family friend and I wanted my oldest to have a…read morestrong understanding of the foundations of math so we signed up my daughter. She enjoys going (especially when she would run into friends who were attending the same time slot as her) and earning cards to purchase snacks and prizes. She has been going for about two years and we are happy with how she is doing in math so we signed up her younger sister (who has been going for about a year). Both our girls seem very confident in their math and we've referred many friends (who ended up signing up) to the Center. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, especially the Owner/Center Director, Revati. She is approachable, understanding and warm. You can tell that she wants to make math fun and approachable for the children. She also keeps parents informed on their child's progress by talking to you at pick up/drop off or letting you know that she's available to meet anytime if you need to speak with her regarding your child's progress. She also makes sure kids cross safely while walking in the crosswalk, to cross the street. I will continue to recommend Mathnasium to those looking for math assistance/practice for their child(ren).

My daughter started at Mathnasium Walnut Creek at grade level last year and she's now working about…read morea year ahead of grade level. What's worked for us is the structure: they binder system gives focused practice and a regimented program. We get progress updates so I know what she's working on and what she's proficient at. The staff is friendly and genuinely looking to help, and the student instructors are engaging. Scheduling has been easy to work around sports and school, and their rewards system gives her a little extra motivation, she hasn't complained about going yet.. Overall, we've seen consistent progress and growing confidence. We've been happy with the results and the experience here.

The Writing Studio