My daughter and I did the Spanish language paint night and I had a great time! This is my first time doing a paint night so I was a little nervous about how my painting was going to come out. But I love my Picasso-esque painting. Ed did a great job teaching us and guiding us through the process. It was also great to have some Spanish language lessons incorporated into the night. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention his delicious tortilla Espanola and the live music! read more

Rola Languages - The artists at work - Language Schools Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Rola Languages is a great language school nestled between Porter and Harvard Squares in Cambridge, MA. Students have the opportunity to learn multiple romance languages that will help them achieve their personal and professional goals in a flexible and comfortable setting. Ed Rocha, in particular, uses evidence-based strategies to motivate his students towards success. 10/10 recommend him and Rola as a hub for language learning, community, and connection. read more

I recently finished about 6 months of private French lessons with Rola. The school was very accommodating of my needs - I had to pause for a weeks at two different points, and eventually added an additional tutor to my schedule to ramp up in preparation for a test. My tutors were excellent - with one, I focused more on writing and conversational speaking about current events, and with another, I used a C1 level textbook which came with reading and listening exercises, which we'd discuss during our sessions. If you've hit a plateau (very common between B2 and C1) I definitely recommend considering doing a package of private lessons with Rola! read more

I just finished a Spanish 2 course! The course and teacher Ed were both phenomenal!

I have been taking Portuguese classes at RoLa for a year now and it's been awesome! I have learned so much within a year and I started at the very beginning level. I know that if you already know some of the language you could take a placement test. I have tried using different languages apps for years but didn't make much progress. Having the accountability and regular class meetings was what I needed to actually make progress with my learning. The class sizes are small and the teachers are so kind and knowledgeable! I feel like I have a lot of opportunities to practice speaking during class (both last year in-person and now online). I can't recommend RoLa enough! read more

I am reviewing Rola Language Institute for the second time because this is now AFTER coronavirus and my other review was a few years ago. This school has such small classes and so much personal attention and such good teachers that it would be a CRIME if it could not survive this pandemic which is changing our lives. We are all going to find that many wonderful institutions we have relied on or just simply enjoyed for years are GONE when life returns (eventually) to some kind of normal. Rola is doing a GREAT job with online classes. Take one and see how much better you get in whatever language you choose. Talk to Erica. She knows everything and she'll help you figure out the best class or one on one tutoring to sign up for. You will find out immediately how much personal attention you will get here! Sharon K. read more

Great place to learn a language, very small class sizes, less than 6. In my Italian class everyone was pretty much on the same level so it was a good class. You take a placement test to select your level of proficiency. There is homework each week which you don't have to do but reinforces the learning. Shoutout to my teacher Veronica, she was so sweet and also explained things very clearly! Was great to get back into speaking Italian again. read more

I was recently shopping around for a place to take Spanish classes. I had some specific requirements. I was looking for classes that had more of a conversational format and didn't want to spend more than $200 (which proved to be difficult around the city). I am really pleased to have found RoLa. They are a small school with small classes. The owner and all of the teachers are native speakers of whichever language they are teaching. This combination allows for a great class where you are challenged by having to speak for a good portion of the hour and a half lesson. You don't have to buy any additional materials - they print everything out for you. You typically get homework every class that goes over what you learned in that particular lesson. RoLa also offers "Intensive Weekends" where students spend all day Saturday and Sunday at the school conversing and immersing themselves in the language. I will definitely be back to RoLa to brush up on my espanol! read more

I am really pleased to have found RoLa. The owner and all of the teachers are native speakers of whichever language they are teaching. Ed (the owner) is the very best professor I have ever met! He is so compromised with his students, he shows so much passion about his work, he is nice, energetic, and an excellent professor. I am so happy! read more

I was extremely dissatisfied with the instruction I received at RoLa. I took lessons with Luis. It is apparent he is not a trained teacher. This includes everything from his method of instruction to his feedback. Aside from an inability to deliver lessons in an effective way, there is no positive feedback. RoLa advertises that all their instructors are native speakers. This is not very helpful since the native speakers are not teachers. They are simply people who happen to speak both languages with equal skill. This is admirable but not helpful in teaching something as complex as a language. RoLa charges almost as much for this as schools with trained teachers. Furthermore they advertise that all materials are included. What is actually included is an eBook which must be printed out by the students. It was quite an expense in printer ink. It also has a slight indication of dishonesty There are also separate immersion classes which must be paid for separately. They are $75 extra per immersion class. This can run up to $150.00 for one weekend of classes. Another big problem with RoLa is the learning atmosphere. They share a building with a dance class. The music which is heard quite clearly makes concentration very difficult. RoLa seems to be an inexpensive alternative to the more expensive, high quality language schools in Boston. They are actually quite expensive without the trained staff that can be found elsewhere. read more

I had a great time learning Spanish at Rola! Everyone I met was good to work with, I enjoyed the 1:1 classes and I thought the prices were very reasonable. I would recommend to anyone interested in learning languages. The location (right by porter square) was also really convenient for me. I reached out over email and went through a basic assessment over the phone, then signed up for group and 1:1 classes. I eventually only continued with the 1:1 classes because my schedule is a bit of a mess, and Rola were extremely accommodating to my regularly having to reschedule. I really liked my teacher (Ana) and the admin (Erica) that I worked with. The classes were varied, with an emphasis on speaking practice and the homework was good although I didn't do a lot of it :-) I hope to return to classes at some point in the future when things are a bit less hectic for me. read more

I loved my experience with RoLa languages. I took 6 classes of online Spanish with RoLa, and I looked forward to it every week. My instructors (it was the same one almost every time) were patient, fun, and guided me through the lessons by having basic conversations using the vocab I learned during the week. I particularly appreciated the attention to detail when it came to my accent and helping me to gain a more native Spanish (they even asked me what country I wanted an accent from) accent in place of my harsh english-spanish pronunciations. I came in speaking close to no Spanish, and I feel like I learned a significant amount over the six weeks. read more

I really enjoyed these classes! I hadn't practiced Spanish in 2 years, so I was nervous to be in such a small group. My teacher made the environment very comfortable so I felt empowered to speak freely. I really appreciated the experience of receiving direct feedback during the classes. I learned a lot during those two weeks and I definitely feel more comfortable speaking in overall. Highly recommend!! read more

I have been taking Portuguese classes through Rola since this past June. Because of COVID, they've pivoted to offering all their classes online and these classes have been such a highlight for me. I've had Vinícius as an instructor who has been such a pleasure to learn from. It's clear how much he enjoys his role and spends time teaching culture as well as language. The classes are fun and engaging. I'll definitely continue my classes through Rola and would recommend them to anyone else! read more

Great school! Would strongly recommend. When looking for a school, my principle requirements were price, location and of course quality. This was the perfect pick. Very young and growing school, just about the cheapest in town, the founder/owner/teacher Ed is a passionate and fun teacher. He makes most everything seem easy and always does it with a smile. I am progressing fast and will probably keep on going to level 2 once I am over with the first one. read more

I really enjoyed taking French class at Rola. The instructor Farida is patient, persistent and the class flow was great. Even when I felt totally inept, she made me quickly feel comfortable and keep working it and having fun. Erica is fast, efficient and helpful with scheduling and she fielded an issue my husband had with another class with professionalism and got him on the right track. Erica also filled in as the instructor for French class when Farida was out of town. She is another great instructor. The only problem is I have too much information to practice now! Thanks Rola for a great experience. I recommend to give them a try, and if you have any concerns along the way, talk to Erica! They want you to have a great experience! read more

RoLa is awesome. I took 4 sessions of Spanish with Luis. The only reason I'm ending is because I'm moving out of state. The classes are fun and non stressful. I appreciated the director, Ed, coming in the first class and explaining his vision and history of his program. The classes are small so you can't hide and only get away with learning the written version of a language. This sounds like an introvert's nightmare (spoken from an extreme introvert), but once you get through that first class, you realize most of the others are in the same position as you and are just as insecure and which means making mistakes becomes less embarrassing. It will push you out of your comfort zone but it's a challenge that's worth taking. ALSO, the school as a whole is attentive and really willing to work with you and give individualized care. I had to stop taking classes because of traveling for work and Erica (the Assistant Director) remembered where I had left off and emailed me mid session to see if I wanted to join up so I can start in the appropriate spot! To me this shows good business sense and attention to detail which so many, especially small, businesses lack! Nice job RoLa! I definitely recommend giving them a try. Its worth every penny. read more

First, the class itself is fantastic. The teacher is great. The school has much to be desired though. This week I realized I probably will never take another class after this one. There was some confusion about moving classes around and the other instructor (who teaches Spanish) was really rude both to me and then proceeded to have a debate with my teacher in front of me. (All so he could have 10 minutes to prep a room) - We've been in the same classroom for 3 weeks man - get a clue. Second, the class ends at 9. I had to use the bathroom today after class. I barely had left the bathroom (two minutes later) and I looked at my phone for a second to get directions to the T stop.. (this wasn't even 9:05) - it was snowing outside before class - and there's a guy saying "I need to lock up" and shutting off the lights as I'm about to leave. Look - I manage a bank - you have to stay until your customers have left - sorry pal. Just rude all around. I would never take a class at an institution that is so unorganized. I've never ever been pushed out of a class at any other school in my entire scholastic career. This doesn't even take in to account the efforts to get the class to run. Poorly run school. That said, the teacher is great. I had planned to take Italian 1-3 and Spanish 1-3 - plenty of other places to do. read more

This is, by far, the best place for learning a new language! Right now, classes are online. The classes are quite small, which allows for much more attention than I've had at other schools. My instructor has been fantastic; I learn about Brazilian culture, as well as the language. The best thing, though, is that this is the first language class where I'm actually being taught to speak the language! I'm learning from an instructor who is Brazilian and knows exactly how people really speak in Brazil. I'm not studying grammar endlessly. It's one part of a well developed, comprehensive approach to learning a language with the goal of speaking the language. I highly recommend RoLa to anyone who wants to learn a new language. It's a great way to spend the extra time we have inside. Summer is coming to a close and soon it will be winter-why not doing something fun when the weather changes and we're all stuck inside?!! read more

RoLa is the greatest! Love my Thursday night classes with Luis and really feel like I'm building a strong foundation in my Spanish learning. We use creative approaches and advance at a pace that ensures proficiency but still pushes the class along. I particularly like RoLa's policy to cap class sizes to make sure everyone has the chance to really engage with the lessons. All in all, I've had a wonderful experience with RoLa and don't see myself stopping classes any time soon. read more

I have taken Spanish classes in other states and even in another country. Professora Erica Adelson of Rola is one of the best instructors I have ever had. She makes learning a new language fun, friendly, and educational at the same time. I look forward to many more sessions at this institution. read more

I have been taking French classes at ROLA for over a year and a half, and I highly recommend my teacher Caroline Penicaud for those of you who are interested in studying French. I look forward to going to French class every week for both the learning and the community. I appreciate that ROLA keeps the classes small; that way, you can really get to know your teacher and your peers - and feel like you're getting personalized attention! Erica Adelson has always been very responsive and accommodating in coordinating the class sessions. Finally, taking classes here makes me feel good about supporting a small local business. Great experience all around! Cannot recommend enough. read more

Just finishing up several sessions of Spanish class here, with Luis and Florencia, and I thought that the program was wonderful! The class sizes are small so that you get lots of opportunity to talk, and the teachers are very understanding of professional commitments. This was a great way to improve and practice my spanish and I highly recommend it! The only reason I am not continuing is because I am moving out of the area. read more

I have been taking Spanish classes at Rola for nearly 2 years after having taken them elsewhere for about a year. I love the small class size (never more than 6 students), the proficiency level testing, and the experienced native Spanish speaking teachers who make learning Spanish quite fun. Teachers take suggestions from the students on how to structure the advanced classes and are quite creative in exercises to help the learning process. Potlucks at the owner's home which include students and teachers from many different countries are an added plus. I have met English learners at the potlucks and arranged additional non classroom based language exchanges with them which have been very interesting and rewarding. The director is very enthusiastic and generous. I intend to continue classes at Rola to help maintain my Spanish fluency and knowledge of the more complex aspects of Spanish. read more

My roommate and I started taking Spanish classes at RoLa about three months ago and we love it. The classes are small and tailored to our individual language levels. Our teacher Luis has been really great. He works hard to prepare new/different activities for class to keep each week fresh and exciting. It has only been a short amount of time but we feel like we have learned a lot and we look forward to class every week. Highly recommended! read more

My feelings of ROLA are mixed. I think it is a great place to start but at some point I am finding that me and my classmates have hit a plateau and here is why. So, we are taking Italian right now and I think this was the first time that they have had an audience for Italian. Started with Veronica who was great - for Level 1 and Level 2. Towards the end of Level 2 I felt like ok finally this is starting to get hard. And then she had to leave the country for a bit and we got a new teacher, Rocco who is amazing and tough which is what I needed. The only problem was I and other classmates and I think Rocco feels the same way, we are given too much too fast and not retaining anything. This series I am now in Level 4 and I know they are going to send an email about Advanced Italian or Level 5 and my thoughts are, how much higher are we going to go. This time in Level 4 Rocco, is taking us back to review things from level 2 and 3 which is what we need and he knows we need it. My concern is that the school is pushing us to constantly learn new stuff even though we are not completely solid with what we have already learned. I think the 8 week sessions for a "Level" is not exactly the best way to go about it. I think they need to go by semester and draw out slowly how much material is given out to make sure that their students really grasp the material. I am not sure if I want to continue in the class structure or if I want to do privates or take a break from class and take all of this material on my own and slow it down and practice it. Again I think to get started - it is a great place but to really move forward and get comfortably fluent in the language, not sure if this is the right place or not. read more