Yui sensei is a wonderful teacher and she makes learning Japanese fun. Her explanations are…read moreterrific and help you to understand some of the more difficult and idiomatic concepts in the Japanese language. You really learn how to speak Japanese as a native speaker. And sensei takes the time to give equal attention to everyone in class. I especially like the fact that the classes are recorded and the students have access to the lessons and can replay the recording to catch any material that they may have missed. I have attended both the in person lessons and the on-line zoom classes and both of those classes were helpful.

Highly Recommend Yui sensei to anyone looking to learn Japanese. Her classes are always fun and…read moreengaging, making learning a new language an enjoyable experience. Currently on Level 4 and looking forward to continuing on to the next levels.

The Hawaii school that is one of EF's language schools is not reliable. EF is a money-making…read moreoperation more than anything else.  I do not recommend this school. They Do NOT have a proven track record in the international student industry? They are NOT transparent about what they expect from you as a student Nor as a host family. The international student industry has grown exponentially in recent years, and there are more agencies than ever clamoring to find good host families. EF is not one of them because EF unfortunately is about taking shortcuts and operating inefficiently. At best, this can cause headaches and confusion for the students and host family when they are looking for answers or support, and at worst, it can mean an unsafe environment for either the student or the host family! EF gives conflicting information to host families and students just to get you interested. For instance, EF tells students that all meals will be provided for them by host family and they tell host families that EF will provide meals for students on Monday through Friday and expect host family to provide meals only on Saturday and Sundays. EF tell host family they provide bus passes for host student and tell host students that host family will provide the transportation for them. EF is far from transparent about what they expect from you as a host family and as a student which can mean an unsafe environment for both the student and the host family! If you are interested in becoming a student Do NOT waste your time and money with EF Hawaii. Do your due diligence and find a company that is reputable, honest, stable, & transparent. If you are interested in becoming a host family, there are other agencies looking for good host families that are honest, reliable, stable, well organized and transparent about the expectations you are agreeing to in order to receive the stipend, and that will actually pay you as promised! EF will promise to pay you $710.00 which is suppose to include a one time sign-up bonus of $150.00 for your first student but will instead pay you a total of $110.00 and tell you that you were misinformed. The best companies will also guarantee support and advice for when (not if) challenges arise with your student. Sincerely, Dr. Dee

EF really does help our tourism industry here in HI. They offer and promote having many students…read more(college age and up) come live and stay in Hawaii and do all of the tourist activities here in HI - especially Waikiki. The staff at EF joke that Starbucks could stay in business with just the income from the EF students- as there are many who go there daily or more often than that. Location- it is high enough over Waikiki to get a great sun set view over the ocean. The lounge is great to hang and not much studying goes on but it is a great meeting place. The classrooms are full on normal desk chair type classrooms that make you look and feel like you are in real school - even if it is English language class. Staff- helpful and know their stuff- willing to help students. EF also has a larger company network of schools basically all over.

One of the very few Chinese school on the island. Sui Wah School was started over 30 years ago by…read moreMrs. Chee Ping Lee. The school's primary focus is Cantonese, however, due to the popularity and rising importance of Mandarin as the international language, the school started offering conversational mandarin as part of the curriculum. The school is a 501c not-for-profit, year-round school, running on Sunday from 9 am to 12 noon. They start accepting students from ages 3 and up. Based on age and the child's assessment, your child will be placed into the appropriate class. Through out the year, the school also have programs or celebration ceremonies to showcase the excellence of their students. My older daughter has attended the school since she was 3, therefore, I am an avid parent and supporter of this school. They also have conversational mandarin classes for adults. The school is well organized and structured, lead by a great principal, teachers and parent volunteers.

Excellent Chinese school offering both Cantonese and Mandarin. The school promotes not only the…read morelanguage but also the Chinese culture. The school also offers fun and festive activities like Chinese New Year celebrations, annual school open days, mini carnivals, Christmas craft sales, and outings once in a while. The principal and teachers are very experienced and patient. Most of them are certified education professionals. Our two sons started when they were 5. They learned nursery rhymes and simple Chinese characters when they were young. They gradually learned to compose simple sentences and paragraphs. Having attended the Sunday school for 13 years, the boys were able to do Chinese composition and translation between English and Chinese when they graduated. Location is extremely convenient. It's right at the Chinese Cultural Plaza. Lots of free street parking on Sunday. Parents can also enjoy good restaurants around the school and grocery shopping in Chinatown after dropping off the child. Overall, it's the best Chinese school on the island. We love it and highly recommend this to everyone who's interested to learn Chinese.

My writing is always my weak point. So, Sam is always helping me to improve my English writing…read more Also, Sam is a very great teacher because he has the passion to teaching English and always helping student to learn. Sometimes Sam has historic activities, social, community events, and other event, you can get connect to other people and you can make different people from many countries. I like Sam to be my English teacher.

From the owner: English language classes, activities, and private lessons for adults. Beginner, intermediate, and…read moreadvanced level classes in general English, pronunciation, business English, and test preparation (TOEIC, TOEFL, FCE/CAE). Nature activities such as hikes, going to different beaches around Oahu, snorkeling, and surfing. Culture activities include visits to the Honolulu Museum of Art, Bishop Museum, First Friday in Downtown, and tours of Iolani Palace. Private lessons are low-price compared with other English schools in Honolulu, and customized to fit each learner's specific needs.

I want to do the CELTA language program but I was discriminated against and banned!…read more I am smart and a good teacher! First, Betty Compton said I could not start the CELTA program because I had not completed a four year degree. But this is not correct, the requirements state:-- | Do you have a standard of education equivalent to that | required for entry into higher education? https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/about-the-celta-course/ Betty was wrong; I don't need to have completed a four year degree; I need to be eligible to enter into a four year degree. Maybe I can still try with her. I emailed back to Ms. Compton but Ms. Compton did not reply. Several months later, I called in to try to talk to someone. The lady answering the phone (Yuko? Yuki?) said someone would call back. Her English was very bad and so I was very slow with her and she thanked me for being patient. I waited and nobody called. Then, I called back maybe one week later and tried again. Yuko answered. She said she had given my message to "people working there". I asked whom and she wouldn't say, only "people working here". I figured something was wrong if she doesn't even know who she gave my message to. I asked to be transferred to leave voice mail. Yuko refused. So I left a message with Yuko again. I called back a few days later again and left another message. Each time, I'm speaking slowly and patiently with Yuko. But nobody called back. Today, I called because nobody had called me back. The call was hung up immediately with no "hello" from anyone. So I tried again and same thing. Then, one more time, and Yuko, with bad English, answered and told me that she has my number and not to call again; that she was calling the police. I asked whom I was speaking to and she replied "uh uh". It was totally uncanny -- we went from "someone will call you back" and "I gave the message to people working here" to "we're calling the police! This is harassment" and refusing to self-identify. No doubt she'd been instructed to do so, perhaps by Betty Compton, the one who made the wrong decision and misstated the CELTA requirements. Maybe Betty hates me or I don't know what. I sense they have been saying bad things about me to each other. Most likely, they've badmouthed me to the University of Manoa folks Joel Weaver and possibly Judie Hudson, too, as Judie was inappropriate and even threatened me during the interview and Joel refused to discuss with me when I said that Judie had been inappropriate. I did nothing wrong! I want to teach English. I like to teach. Everybody knows I am very good at teaching and communicating. I can hardly believe how mean these people are. Why do they hate me so much when I just want to teach? If I did something wrong, OK, but I didn't -- it's discrimination. I thought people in Hawaii are so happy but these people are mean for no reason. I want to get certified to teach English! I am hurt and disappointed that I was rejected with anger and flagrant disrespect.

A perfect place to learn English in Hawaii. It is near of many touristic attractions. The teachers…read moreare so friendly.

I like Academia! The school has a friendly, helpful atmosphere and every teacher I have met is…read morededicated to doing a great job. They care about their students.

This school doesn't deserve any stars! Most students want to give them a Black Hole…read more The school director was witnessed to yell ("Be quiet" or "sit down "in a loud voice), slam door and appear to act violently towards students, forcing them to stop a class. just because they wanted to continue learning something important for them in that class! In addition, He threatened one of student that he would tear up her I-20, if she had not switched out the class, or followed his order, he will not allowing her to stay in Hawaii to learn English. Many students lost their passion of learning English and time and money in this school!!

Excellent English school! Great location (across from Ala Moana shopping center), wonderful…read moreteachers and very friendly staff .

Global focuses on English. Location is great as it is near…read morethe Ala Moana Mall. Classrooms are full of tech, and normal desk type tables and chairs. Great for college age students learning English. There is a great open window for the view over the ocean side of Ala Moana. Great couch and place to chill. High enough up on building to look over the new goings on at Ala Moana mall. Staff are helpful and want the students to enjoy living in Hawaii. Bathrooms are oddly placed in the building on the floor- just odd. Many of the students are Asian or European and many just come to the school to go to language school.

Excellent opportunity for the students. Professionally taught classes nice classroomsread more

This place is best known as IMPAC and it's basically a college for International students to learn…read moreEnglish and a variety of other subjects. They team up with local colleges where the international students will go for programs such as UH Manoa's NICE program. Through my colleges: Leeward CC and UH Manoa, I have met many IMPAC students and I've had the time of my life hosting them as a sort of tour guide around the island. I miss my Korean friends SOOO much. If you have international friends or know anyone in Japan or Korea, I would highly suggest you recommend IMPAC to them as a way to get English experience and to have the program on their resume for when they are going into their career. The teachers here are great, the facilities are pretty standard but they are central to town and there's Ala Moana not even five minutes away. Thank you IMPAC for connecting local students with international students and helping us make friends for life.