How lucky was I to be placed in an Italian class with Valentina Dalan! In a few weeks, I will be starting my third Intermediate class with her, and I am "proprio" looking forward to beginning it, just as I enjoy coming every Wednesday to her class. She is "molta simpatica," and is patient and encouraging to all of us in her small class. Everything that has been said about her in previously written reviews are echoed by me, and I, too, highly recommend Valentina for a teacher, especially if Italian is the language of your heart as it is of mine. Paula F. read more

I have been taking advanced italian with Valentina Dalan. Best teacher there is - always prepared, super knowledgeable, detailed, thoughtful, caring, engaging with relevant and diverse topics from culture, history - all in an interactive and fun way. I highly recommend Valentina Dalan. read more

Love my teacher Valentina. Easy registration, straightforward sign up process. I have been learning Italian with Valentina for a few semesters now. She is patient, kind, knowledgeable and very fun to learn with. I am really enjoying the Italian language learning process with her. Very conversational; she makes it fun and interesting. read more

Super impressed!! I wanted to learn Japanese and I feel that I do better with learning languages in an in-person setting than via an app. Community college courses were filled with a lot of extra busy work and I was so stressed about getting a good grade that I wasn't retaining a lot of the language. Then I found OC Lingual Institute- the classes are in-person, small, interactive, and focus on language AND culture. I feel like I've learned more in 5 weeks than in an entire semester in a college course, and more than 2 1/2 years of doing Duolingo! Very happy!! read more

This is a wonderful school, with qualified teachers, a really effective method, and fun environment. I highly recommend the Italian class with Valentina Dalan, she's awesome! I never thought learning a new language would be so easy! read more

If you are thinking of learning a new language, let this be your sign! I have been learning Italian here with Valentina for some time. She has been supportive and patient through the whole process with myself as well as fellow students and is genuinely invested in our success. Take classes here in any language and you will see that the classroom becomes a community of individuals all focused on the same language learning goals, having fun and making friends in the process. read more

I'm just getting ready to start my 3rd 8-week Italian session with Maria Oliveri Minney. The homework is very manageable, and I enjoy the combination of reading/writing/speaking opportunities. I will be going back to Sicily for the first time since starting this class so I'm sure I will need to use the translation app much less. After our class last week, Maria and I decided a few extra things I could do in order to prepare for my trip in a more strategic way. read more

Valentina is a great instructor. She gives you good instruction for formal and non formal Italian. I like that she gives you what and how you should respond while in Italy. I would recommend her Italian classes! read more

I just finished my first Spanish class in over 20 years with Areli at OCLI. Wow! This was nothing like high school -- we jumped right in and began learning in multiple modes right from day one. Areli is an incredible teacher -- I felt both met where I was at as well as pushed every day to grow more. What helps the most is that she uses multiple modes of teaching -- writing, speaking and listening -- in everyday real world situations. She broke down ideas that I spent months trying to understand (e.g. the subjunctive tense) in one easy to follow lesson. I can't continue taking another class right now due to work and home commitments this Spring, but I'm already eager to return. I know I would be able to learn what I need and grow into the Spanish speaker I hope to become if I do. Areli is an excellent instructor and I feel would help any student meet their goals -- she goes above and beyond and was always available outside of scheduled class time to review concepts too. I'd recommend her class to anyone wanting to improve their Spanish! read more

I've been taking Spanish classes at OC Lingual for the past year and a half and couldn't give a stronger recommendation to the school. I came to the program with a basic understanding of Spanish from college nearly 20 years ago. From that level, my Spanish has improved significantly to a point where I am comfortable conducting basic business and holding conversations in the language. All of this progress is thanks to OC Lingual. Highest praise goes out especially to Professor Areli - one of the most proficient language instructors I've ever met. Areli is highly effective in teaching not only Spanish language and grammar, but also how to handle conversations from daily life. The classes are held in a convenient online format that fits great into my schedule, but in-person classes are also available at the Institute. It just depends on what you're seeking. If you want to try out a language program, look no further than OC Lingual. read more

I have been taking Spanish classes at the OC Lingual Institute for over a year now and have been extremely pleased with the teaching skills and overall professionalism of La Maestra Areli. She is an excellent communicator, very well organized in her teaching approach, prepares for classes with a solid teaching plan, and makes the class enjoyable as you learn. I plan on continuing to take classes with Areli until I either have the language mastered (unlikely) or Areli stops teaching (lets hope not). Thank you Areli for your outstanding leadership and patience in helping me to learn a new language. Jeff Sobieraj read more

I have been taking Spanish for about 1.5 years now. I studied in high school but remembered very little. I couldn't get through the pretérito past tense. However, now with Areli's instruction I've been able to not get through it but I'm able to actually use it. Areli is the most patient and kind instructor. She has a passion for the language and truly enjoys sharing her knowledge. She has taught me how to have fun with the language and given me the confidence to make mistakes. The best part is she is happy to cater classes to the specific needs of students. For me, working in retail sales she has taught me the appropriate vocabulary so that I can communicate with my customers. She is truly the greatest teacher and I can't say enough about her. I finally feel like I can say I'm bilingual! read more

I took Vietnamese level I and II with co Tracy. I found her teaching method to be very effective. Her explanation of the structure was very helpful as well as her teaching style. Additionally, I very much enjoyed her sharing the various aspects of Vietnamese culture. Overall, I very much enjoyed the classes. read more

After moving to a bigger city, I am adoring all of the amenities OC has to offer; OC Lingual institute being high on the list! I speak conversational Italian and I thought it was time to better my skills. Through the institutes online system it was easy to discover which classes they taught and when they are. I filled out the online registration form and I was all signed up! They sent me an email confirmation, the information for the textbook I needed, how to get there, and where to park (there is plenty of parking). My first class with Valentina was amazing! She is a great teacher and really encourages the class to converse which is exactly what I needed to practice. She is wonderful at creating a low-stress, learn-as-you-go environment! The classes are 90 minutes long and last around 8 weeks. You learn a lot very quickly! It is great if you want to brush up on a language before a vacation or make it a goal to learn a new language in the new year. They offer so many different languages! I am thrilled I found this class! Can't wait to learn more! read more

I am taking their beginner German course. Nice slow pace. The classes are small. I am not a huge fan of the chosen textbook but I am still just finishing the first set of classes. We get a review worksheet and homework each week. It's only a once a week class, not a 5 hour, 5 day a week intensive course, so you only get out what you put in. If you put in you own work and come in with questions, you can get a lot out of your class time. I am signed up for beginner 2 soon. read more

The last year I've spent here has been amazing. I chose to study Korean last year, and this place was the only one that responded in a timely manner and helped place me where I needed. Payments are easy to manage and the schedules are clear and have a lot of options for varying schedules. I always recommend. Legit. 100%. Yassss. read more

Orange County Lingual Institute - Happy holidays from a 1st year Korean student! Heading into 2nd - Language Schools Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Great beginning French class. Excellent teacher in a small classroom setting. Highly recommend.

OC Lingual Institute is EXACTLY what I've been searching for! I've always wanted to learn how to speak Spanish, as a new skill and for travel. They offer convenient times, including evening and weekend classes. The classes are held in a clean, professional and small classroom setting. My teacher, Monica is amazing! She not only has the credentials to teach the proper way to speak the language, but also teaches us the colloquial way to speak - which I think is helpful. Monica is clearly passionate about what she does. She creates a very supportive and friendly environment which is instrumental when learning a new language. I love that I am able to learn from one teacher as a beginner, until I become fluent and I don't have to deal with any tests or quizzes. I just enrolled for my third session, and will definitely continue until I have reached my goal of becoming fluent. I am so happy I found OC Lingual Institute. If you've been looking for a place to learn a new language, I highly recommend them. read more

Marhaba!! Marhaban if you're feeling formal! I have to admit, I was a little nervous about signing up. I didn't find any reviews for Arabic classes so here is one! The other reviews looked great so it was worth taking a shot. Great communication from the start! Geeta does a great job of keeping students informed before classes start as well as during the 8 week sessions. Jennifer responded to things too - they are both on top of it! Rula has been a great instructor! Our class is made up of folks that has some familiarity and folks that have no familiarity with Arabic. She has been great about meeting us at our needed pace without holding up our overall pace. Learning a completely new set of letters and how they connect has been challenging, but attainable by being in this class. Being in person has been great! I was also nervous about being in person, but there's a fair amount of room in the class and we wear masks which has not hindered learning at all. Practicing writing Arabic on the board has been a great learning tool. The recall needed is great practice, and you have the instructor and even the other students support as you try. I don't know if I would have learned as much or as quickly this was virtual. Lastly, parking and finding the building is super easy. Parking - you just pull into the attached lot, grab a ticket, and validate once you walk into the building. There are also Chargepoint chargers that have always been available in the evening, so I can even charge while in class. Ma'a salama! read more

Orange County Lingual Institute has been so great in getting me back to speaking Spanish again! At one point in my life, I took 4 years of Spanish in high school and 4 years in college, and was fluent. I had a couple of friends who I was able to practice and speak to however they moved and I didn't use and after years went by, my Spanish became so rusty. I'm currently a nursing student and want to get back to speaking Spanish fluently again so that I may be able to help my future patients who only speaks Spanish. Obviously due to covid, classes are conveniently and safely conducted virtually, I was afraid that I wouldn't get the same experience of learning from a live face to face class however the instructors provide great opportunities and ways for the students to be engaged and learning on the virtual format like the face to face format. Geeta and Kai are super helpful and very responsive to all of my questions from finding the right class for me as well as troubleshooting any (rarely, mostly on my end) technical issues. My instructors are Areli and Virginia and they are amazing! If there were certain concepts that I didn't understand, they took the time after class to go over the concepts. They also are very patience and provide great learning styles to not only help understand abut also be more confident in speaking. Even though I have learned so much through the virtual platform, I look forward to the day when we're able to have class in person again. If OC Lingual Institute is able to effectively teach on the virtual format, then I highly highly recommend OC Lingual Institute for all of their language classes. After I master my Spanish, I look forward to improve my Vietnamese. Thank you OC Lingual Institute! read more

Towards the end of 2019, I made the decision to learn Vietnamese. Initially, when I signed up for the beginner class for the Fall session, the session was cancelled due to low enrollment. So I tried to learn through Pimsleur audio lessons for the remainder on 2019. In 2020, I was finally able to learn in a class at OC Lingual Institute. I thought I was well-prepared after going through the Pimsleur lessons. I was wrong! The first thing that the instructor, Tracy, mentioned is that many Vietnamese teaching materials teach the Northern dialect. However, in America, the Southern dialect is more relevant to learn, as many Vietnamese immigrants who live in America come from Southern Vietnam. For one year, I was able to learn the Southern dialect of Vietnamese in Tracy's class. For the first two and a half months, we learned at OC Lingual Institute's physical location in Costa Mesa. But due to the global pandemic of 2020, we were forced to continue learning virtually through an app called Blue Jeans. Initially, I wasn't too keen on learning virtually. I only had a small cell phone to learn from. I had connection issues many times. Fortunately, Tracy and my classmates were very patient and supportive. Tracy suggested that I invest in an iPad to make it easier for me. I must say, this was a game changer in my learning. I could now type in the chat box during in-class exercises, instead of having to write out my exercises in my notebook and hold my notebook up to the webcam. I guess you can say OC Lingual Institute inspired me to get with the times and invest in technology that would assist in my learning goals! The rest of my time learning virtually was quite pleasant. Tracy did a great job teaching us about grammar patterns and vocabulary related to specific topics. She would also introduce us to Vietnamese idioms and festivals. I really commend OC Lingual Institute for being able to host a variety of language classes and for quickly setting up each class to continue with the Blue Jeans app virtually when California was placed on a stay-at-home order in the midst of the global pandemic. It is often said that learning a new language is like living a new life. As I write this review in the beginning of 2021, our lives are still restricted by the pandemic. If you find your life to feel somewhat stagnant, and you have been searching for a new challenge, perhaps consider giving language learning a try. After all, language learning will allow you to experience a new life. OC Lingual Institute gave me a chance to experience it in 2020. Now it's your turn! Good luck on your journey and always remember that your efforts are supported by the collective efforts of administrators, teachers and other language learners at the Institute! read more

This is the second language I have studied here. I started studying Italian at another language school but did not feel I was learning well enough. I started over with Valentina and had a much better experience. She explains this very complicated language well and makes the classes fun. I appreciate the homework she assigns and the extras she adds to the class. read more

OC Lingual Institute has very good, dedicated instructors. It's a great place to learn a foreign language. Our Italian instructor, Valentina is excellent and is always encouraging students to practice speaking Italian. I'm having a lot of fun and I feel I'm actually learning this beautiful language! read more

I wanted to pop in here and leave a review of this school. I wanted to learn some Vietnamese, just to learn and to speak a little with my Vietnamese friend. What a fantastic experience this school was! Cô Tracy is a wonderful instructor! She is very personable and just a lovely person! You are taken right into the language, able to communicate and understand right after the first class. Cô Tracy made it so fun for us. It is all very conversational and applicable for everyday. After my first semester, I actually feel confident enough to at least understand what is going on when others are speaking, signage, reading a menu and actually know what it means! Since this is a tonal language, I can speak simply with another person without totally embarrassing myself. I can't speak highly enough about this class. Because of where I live, I was only able to go to one semester. It is very hard for me to get there, but if you live in that area, this is the school to go to. read more

I am learning Spanish here and I absolutely love it! Monica has been my instructor since level 1 and she is awesome! I've really enjoyed having a native speaker teach the class and she is always willing to take the time to help students understand and answer any questions. She is professional and well prepared and classes never feel too long or boring. The small class sizes are a great benefit and I'm excited to continue learning! Definitely recommend!! read more

I've been with mi maestra Monica since this January, starting with Beginning Spanish, and I am very happy with my progress. Monica is great at understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the class participants and she really makes the learning experience as stress free as possible while continuing to push us to improve every week. The classes are challenging, yet fun, and I appreciate the extra time Monica takes to prepare class presentations and other study material as supplements to the class textbook as they are extremely helpful as references outside the class. If my schedule permits I intend to complete the full Spanish curriculum at OCLI, and I credit Monica with helping in my belief that I can successfully get through it. read more

Monica is amazing! She really makes the class fun and engaging. I highly recommend taking her Spanish classes. Gracias profesora!

I highly recommend the O.C. Lingual Institute. I have attended several semesters of Spanish classes on-line with Areli as my instructor. Areli is an excellent teacher. She is highly organized, presents the material in a professional manner, keeps the class interesting and interactive, and has very positively impacted my comfort level and ability to speak Spanish. The class sizes are small, and Areli is a master at keeping the group on track and giving everyone the opportunity to speak a lot. read more

PLEASE READ MY REVIEW BEFORE YOU CONSIDER READING ANY NEGATIVE REVIEWS. I read the recent negative reviews on here and I am ASTONISHED. This Lingual Institute has been NOTHING but accommodating! So let's break down a few things: The staff: Geeta and Jessica are LITERALLY the nicest people ever. I have bothered them with tons of questions over the past 10 months since I started taking French classes. They take the time to answer any and all questions I have and explain to the fullest extent any and all charges. They have NEVER charged a card without getting authorization. That would NEVER happen so I do not believe anything anyone is saying in the negative reviews about that. The facility: The rooms run a little cold (I prefer it that way). But there hasn't been one time where we haven't been asked if we would like it adjusted. We are always welcomed to let the staff know if we would like the temperature adjusted. The classes: This institute has the best teachers! Maybe I am biased because I love my French teacher, Marie Morgan. The book is easy to follow and the class is always interactive. I've read that classes have been canceled for others and that the staff uses "high pressure sales techniques"...I don't know what type of high pressure situations these negative reviewers have been in...but that does not happen at OCLI. The teacher will remind you at the end of every class for the 2nd half of the session to sign up for the next class. This only happens for YOUR benefit. This ensures you are getting the lowest rate by signing up ahead of time before prices go up and it ensures a final headcount on students for that class. This is not high pressure sales, this is called being proactive. Are you kidding me?? Clearly I am very passionate about this Institute! But they seriously make it so easy to love! The staff, the teachers, the workshops, etc. I have learned SOOO much and I haven't even been here a year! You won't regret signing up. I found this place off of a random google search and I am so thankful I did! :) :) read more

I had a wonderful experience learning Spanish with Areli at OC Lingual Institute. She is positive, encouraging, and endlessly patient. She takes time to explain not only the language but also some aspects of speaking Spanish in different parts of the world, social settings, etiquette, etc.. Learn your next language here; you will not be disappointed! read more

My fiancé and I are finishing up our third semester in Farsi class and cannot speak more highly of our instructor, Shiva, and Lingual Institute. Shiva is a true professional and has taught language at the collegiate level. The classes and content are well structured, organized, and give ample opportunity to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. I am quite astounded and proud of the progress I have made in the last six month. I am looking forward to continuing these courses. Overall, I would highly recommend Lingual Institute as classes are enlightening, reasonably priced, and well worth it. read more

I've been a student here for years studying Russian and French. The instructors are native speakers who do a great job of not only helping with grammar and vocabulary... but also getting a deeper understanding of the culture. I highly recommend OC Lingual. read more

Decided to push myself and start learning French and it's crazy to think that was almost 2 years ago! That is how much of a breeze it has Benz the environment makes you forget you are in "school".. very much a community feel. Gita the director infact has made it a point to know what kinda pencils I like and has them ready for me once she sees me with a huge grin! Evelyne.. what can I say. If you like easy. Probably not the teacher for you. She is extremely passionate about marrying French and fun! She cares deeply about her students. A few times the thought of quitting has crossed my mind.. and I just can't imagine how devastated she'd be. I push on and I am always glad I do. If you are highly driven by results and getting done with the learning, it might be worth it to try it out first cause their is emphasis on group and collective growth over accelerated progress. Rock on! OCLI! read more

A great language school! I enrolled in Advanced German here, and my German greatly improved! My listening abilities in particular improved dramatically; I can now understand pretty well and pick up more information when spoken at a faster speed, which was the most difficult aspect of learning German that I had struggled with. Doreen did a fantastic job making sure everyone in the class would benefit from each session, even though the class consisted of students with varying German language skills. She also did a great job educating us on German culture and brought us German treats! Danke schön Doreen und OCLI! read more

I am so happy that Orange County offers an amazing opportunity to learn any language. I signed up for an Italian language class through the Orange County Lingual Institute. Molto Buono!! incredible teachers small class size.. read more

Great place for busy adults to learn a foreign language! As a full time worker I was nervous I would find somewhere that worked for me, enter Orange County Lingual Institute. The classes are catered to adults and they offer evening hours. If you are taking a popular language such as French or Spanish they have many time/day options. They offer so many different languages from basic to advanced. My German teacher Doreen is extremely nice. And I notice most of the teachers including my own bring in food or specialty items from their home country to the students. Classes are once a week, but you buy your own book and do homework. If you miss a week, they allow you to sit in on another class another day to make it up. The front desk staff is always friendly and helpful. And the facility itself is in a very nice area (business center across from South Coast Plaza), with a gorgeous courtyard, clean, and well maintained. And they leave out coffee and tea for students before class, so appreciated! read more

What a great decision it was to start taking Spanish for the first time at OC lingual. I started with Beg 1 Spanish since I had zero Spanish. Been going for 6 months now and I love it. I should probably be studying some more at home but regardless the classes are awesome. The teacher, Dianne, is great, super patient and really helpful. Classes range from 4 - 8 people so you get lots of attention which really helps when you are struggling. I highly recommend coming to OC Lingual Institute if you are thinking of learning a new language. read more

I'm so grateful I chose Orange County Lingual Institute, not only because the school is great, but the French teacher Ingrid is a ball of sunshine! I learned more than I was expecting in just 6 months time. The small class setting and interactive teaching approach has really improved my French and given me the opportunity to catch on quickly! read more

La maestra Monica Herrera es el mejor! Couldn't have written that sentence without her help. I started in Beginner II and have had no problem advancing and progressing with her help read more

Fantastic French lessons. Ingrid is an incredible teacher and makes class a lot of fun. I really look forward to coming to class each week!