Despite being Filipino, I never was taught Tagalog growing up. I recently was inspired to learn…read moreTagalog, and I was super pleased to learn there was a place nearby that teaches it! I wanted to better connect with the language associated with my heritage, so I decided to invest the time and money to learn Tagalog. I took the Level 1 hybrid course with Rhya in early summer 2026. Overall, it provided a great foundation for introductory grammar and vocab for Tagalog. By the end of the first course, you quickly become comfortable being able to ask simple questions (like where are you from? what's your name?), answering with affirmative/negation statements, and even being able to ask "how much/how many" with Tagalog numbers right off the bat. The class structure felt perfect, with the small class sizes. The course was very interactive, as we were constantly engaging and practicing the language throughout each course. And of course, it provided a safe space to make mistakes and grow with the language. If we made a mistake, Rhya would walk us through our mistake to help understand where it was and why the correct answer was provided. The class structure was also perfect for my work schedule. There were times I had to travel for work and miss a lecture. Because I was signed up for the hybrid course, I was provided class recordings after each session, allowing me to catch up and not feel left behind. The sessions are definitely catered to working adults, with all courses being offered in the evenings. Each session was 90 mins long each week for 7 weeks. I learned a lot from Level 1, and I'm excited to continue on to Level 2!

SJLC (San Jose Learning Center) has a great number of language classes - online, hybrid, or…read morein-class - and a variety of schedules, esp. for busy adults. The instructor that I had, Keiko is great. She is very patient and always willing to help. (The courses can be fast though depending the language and the books being used). The other people there are always very polite and helpful as well. The facility, while basic, is clean and conducive to learning. They seem to use a mix of media (e.g. slides, Quizlet, etc. which is good). FYI - it is near SJC - San Jose Int'l airport and the jets taking off can be somewhat loud at times.

My daughters went here for K-1 and 1-2 at the Campbell and Hamilton campuses. They were both in…read morethe mandarin immersion program and I was pleasantly surprised on how much they learned both reading and writing in Chinese. By the end of their first year, they ere able to easily read short books in Chinese, and write short messages (like thank you cards) all in Chinese. We don't speak mandarin fluently at home but we're still able to somewhat help with homework. Their math program is also very advanced, and now that my kids are set to go to public school, I'm confident Springbridge is at least a year ahead in their math program. The teachers in both K and 1st grade (and 2nd grade, where my oldest attended) are all very caring, attentive, and communicate well with the parents, which was appreciated. They worked with us to figure out ways our kids could grasp concepts they had trouble learning. Their detailed reports for parent teacher conference showed they were deeply involved and interested in my children's education. In addition, the community and camaraderie of the parents and teachers is another factor in why we loved the school.

Springbridge International School is a place where my two children are receiving a high-quality,…read morebilingual education. They have been at Springbridge since 2016 and both love the school. The school curriculum in is offered in English, Japanese, and Mandarin, and is delivered in such a way where students learn meaningful lessons, in two languages, that stress academic, cultural, and personal development. The faculty are passionate educators who embrace the mission of developing young minds in ways that are interesting and challenging to the students. After some issues with the facilities in the early days (such as locations, size, access to good sunlight), the facilities we have now are now top notch - secure, with good light, plenty of room, and large playground areas for the kids to get out and RUN and play!!! The administration has done a very good job through the COVID pandemic. They were able to rapidly transition to remote learning and despite some minor hiccups (which we all experienced at first) the learning continued - with the added benefit of my wife and I having the opportunity to see and hear what and how our girls were learning. It was at this point we truly understood and appreciated that our hard-earned dollars were being spent wisely and to great affect. Last year when the school reopened for in-person learning, the protocols set in place were adequately strict and strictly enforced. Classes were held outdoors and the kids were maintained in cohorts to minimize the risks of any widespread exposures. The use of masks was mandatory without exception even when on spacious playgrounds. The rules were/are clear and uniform for all grades. With the recent surge in Omicron, we are voluntarily back to distance learning until the surge passes. As parents we are responsible for providing our kids with every opportunity we are able to provide. My wife and I are not rich. We're working class people from working class families. Financially we'd be far better off if our kids went to public schools and in our area of San Jose there are some well-rated schools. While we toil away and struggle at times, we know we are doing what is best for our kid's future. They are both bilingual, in touch with their Japanese and American cultures, and are receiving advanced level education from this fine private school. Added Note: When I use Yelp I usually look at the most recent reviews...but always find myself drifting toward reading the negative reviews too. I did that for Springbridge as well. There are a couple of negative reviews and I think I know one of them. Everyone has a different experience and that's fine. Not every student and not every family will have the same opinion, nor will they have the same experience if there is a misalignment in key areas like respecting the rules, embracing the mission, or you or your child having a disagreeable outlook or personality. This school is a community and your child and my children are not special, they're members of a tight knit community where learning is the priority, delivered by trained and caring people, in clean and secure facilities.

Language Connection makes learning a second language interesting and fun. It's not a typical…read moreprogram as there is not a class or lesson with definite start or stop date (like a class at the university). You can 'roll into' an ongoing group lesson or take individual lessons. The instructions are pretty reasonably priced and they offer you a lot of different language options. I took private French lessons prior to traveling to France and found the instruction very useful for my trip. I would gladly take lessons in the future when traveling abroad ( I think they teach Spanish, German, Chinese, etc). I also enjoyed that the speakers where 'native' speakers and gave useful information about the culture in addition to the lessons. Overall, I would recommend that you check them out.

I highly recommend the Language Connection and Sophie Fritz, if you would like a fun environment,…read morewhere you learn French from a native speaker. I have had several teachers and have enjoyed previous French lessons, but I must say that Sophie makes the class especially enjoyable and one learns a lot. The classes contain a variety of subjects and methods of teaching. This keeps them quite interesting! There is a mixture of conversation, vocabulary, grammar, listening to French movies and written exercises. She explains things well and never makes you feel stupid! Sophie tailors her class for working people, as well as folks with more time to study. I don't hesitate to recommend her classes, for those wanting to learn to speak French.

If you're looking for a preschool with kind and caring teachers, excellent Mandarin instruction,…read moreand delicious food (not sure if this is true post-covid), look no further! Compared to other schools, the price is very reasonable. It doesn't look fancy - they operate out of an old church in Cupertino - but we loved our experience there. When COVID started, they were quick to close to keep everyone safe and they provided Zoom for the kids. We moved away and are no longer able to send our daughter there (plus, she's aged out), but the head teacher still texts us to wish us well.

I have sent both of my son and my daughter to this bilingual educational center. both of them love…read morethe place, the teacher and program! The new facility using Union Church is a better environment for kids.

I like the experienced instructors and school's atmosphere…read more I was very concerned about my presentation skills, my speech and my writing. I usually get very nervous when speaking. However, I feel much more comfortable on speaking and improved my writing very quickly after the guide of the instructors. And even more confident when I share with others now. They have great classes. It's a great school.

This college is really good with fantastic teachers and staffs. I started to study at Golden Gate…read moreCollege on 10/31/2019, now I'm transferring to other college, but I really love this school so much. From the bottom of my heart, I won't forget the Director, teachers, and staffs at Golden Gate College.

Teachers really care for the kids. The curriculum is at a higher level than the public curriculum…read more Yet, the low student to teacher ratio means the teachers can see and help each child. Tuition is also less than other private schools. This is also a mandarin immersion school that teaches traditional bo po mo fo which we love. The parents do not need to speak the language at home and there are many families that do not speak Mandarin. Overall, great place for kids to learn and grow.

We are absolutely thrilled with our experience at Mandarin Academy, and we couldn't be happier with…read morethe progress our son has made since starting Kindergarten this year. One of the most remarkable aspects of Mandarin Academy is the speed at which our son has started speaking Chinese at home. We are a non-Chinese family. Within just three weeks of starting, he was already bringing his newfound language skills into our daily conversations. Another key factor that sets Mandarin Academy apart is its small class sizes. In these intimate settings, every student has the opportunity to actively engage and participate in the learning process. This focus on individual attention and participation is invaluable when it comes to mastering a new language, and we've seen firsthand how it has benefited our child's language development. We also got a spot offered by Cupertino Union School District (CUSD), but after experiencing what Mandarin Academy has to offer, we made the decision to withdraw and stay with Mandarin Academy. Main reason was the big class sizes at CUSD (20+ students) which makes it hard to learn a language. The higher standards, personalized approach, and dedication to language education at Mandarin Academy were simply unmatched, and we believe this is the best place for our child to flourish.

Sharon is a wonderful teacher. She is kind and tolerant. I love her sophisticated comments and…read morefeedback. And what makes her special is her flexible program. If you really want to improve your English skill, then you should not miss the chance to study with her! Additional updated review: Sharon's career course was so powerful and critical that I could complete my resume, CV, elevator pitch, and R-A answer for an interview. And because of them, I was able to get my new job! I couldn't made it without her. I appreciate her for everything. Thanks Sharon!

Sharon is an excellent ESL (English as a second language) teacher. I take online English lessons…read morefor 60 minutes once a week. I wanted to improve my English grammar, pronunciation, writing, and conversation skills. In a few lessons, not only did I notice big improvement, but my colleagues did too. Her approach is to work on quick fixes and to give immediate feedback so I can incorporate that learning immediately in my daily life. In addition to helping with daily conversation, she has expertise in resume/LinkedIn profile review and job interview preparation. With the help of her sessions, I landed a wonderful job opportunity.

I took an intro French course recently with Celine Val. I really liked the class and our teacher. I…read morethought it was reasonably well structured and that she did a good job teaching us first how to pronounce, then how to read and write. We studied formal and informal. If you have any background in a language I would suggest you refresh yourself and test into something other than the intro course. Starting at the beginning was perfect for me since I have never studied French before, but it was very, very basic stuff. Had I taken that level for a language I had previously studied I think I would have been bored. Pros: - Conveniently located to the 84 and 101 (and Caltrain?) - Convenient times after work - Great way to sample a new language to see if you're really interested in it. - You get to keep the text book (they are used, mine had writing it...) Cons: - When you are only meeting once a week it's really easy to say: "I'll study this weekend." "I'll study tomorrow." "Oh crap, class is tonight, I better study." - Cost - it's roughly $40 a class (give or take) so if you're going to stick with it long term it's going to add up. A college course may be cheaper (though with the way college tuition is these days maybe not?). Private lessons seem to run $30-$40+ an hour, so I think their costs are reasonable. It just adds up over time, which hurts my head when I do the math... - $50 one time set-up fee per student

I took private intro spanish lessons with Erick. He was very flexible with my scheduled and allowed…read moreme to have a different meeting time each week to accommodate my schedule. Erick did a great job of assessing my current level of proficiency and then adapting an appropriate curriculum to advance my skills. We met at the Menlo Park school at times, which is a very easy to access right next to the Facebook campus off of Willow Road. Other times we met at a location we decided upon. The staff at ABC were very helpful in my billing or any questions I needed to get answered. Highly recommend ABC for anyone interested in any foreign language, no matter what level they are in. They will have an instructor for whatever language you are interested in.