Despite being Filipino, I never was taught Tagalog growing up. I recently was inspired to learn Tagalog, 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! read more

SJLC (San Jose Learning Center) has a great number of language classes - online, hybrid, or in-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. read more

I took Tagalog 1 with Rhya in summer 2023 and Tagalog 2 with Nicky in summer 2025. Both times I opted for Hybrid courses, since I would be back in the Bay part of summer, and I definitely recommend adding that option if you learn better in-person. I was typically the only student who came in-person since most students take the class remote, but being able to be in the same room as the instructor helped my motivation during class immensely. Rhya and Nicky are both so kind and knowledgeable. You can tell that they are not only experts in the language (as native speakers from the Philippines) but in pedagogy. As a community college professor myself, I admire how organized the class was and how welcoming they are. The other students in my recent class were highly motivated and excited to learn Tagalog for various reasons. Some like me grew up with Filipino parents but never learned Tagalog, while others are in relationships with Filipinos/Filipino Americans and want to engage more deeply with the community through language. Overall, SJLC has been a positive experience, and I am excited to take the next (and last) level of Tagalog 3. The current rates for Tagalog (7 weeks, weekly meeting for small group) is $399 remote, $419 in person, and $449 hybrid -- note: this is a "Prime" class, so it is priced a bit higher since the instructor is a native speaker with 5+ years of teaching experience). read more

나는 @SJLearningcenter에서 5년 동안 한국어를 배우고 있어. San Jose Learning Center 정말 추천해요. The teacher makes the curriculum fun. #learnkorean

I am a huge fan of global diversity education, foreign languages/cultures, and adding more colors to life. Traveling around the world brings new ideas and experiences. I haven't stepped foot into San Jose Learning Center for many years after the pandemic. I was previously enrolled into Mandarin-Chinese at their older location. Teachers are all very professional and easy to follow. Classes are good in size and not too stressful. It's a respectful atmosphere with people who share similar passions and interests. Lots of homework at times though. Glad to join SJLC annual lunch event this year. Exciting and new adventures ahead. I look forward to joining Spanish classes in future. Annual event is always a great time for staffs/teachers/students appreciation time. It's filled with good cultural activities and great foods. Event feels much smaller today, but the community involved is made up of wonderful people. Everyone is very nice and conversational. Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Italian, Russian, French, Korean, Vietnamese, German, sign language, etc. They even offer Arabic and Persian language now. Very cool. Must love. Patio area is shady with lots of trees and coverings. Plenty of public free parking spots in the business office/park plaza. I've lived with French host families abroad and have also placed international students with American host families in the past. Having foreign language schools available are blessings. You can always travel with groups. Korean classes are one of my favorites. Take advantage of learning a new language these days. Hybrid classes are available. I still prefer in-person learning onsite. Overall, this is a good choice for foreign language studies, especially if you work & live around here. Glad to revisit again. Plenty of classrooms available. read more

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I am taking Korean classes with Soonbok Lee, and absolutely enjoying each class. She clearly goes over homework, grammar, and conversational Korean. My class is many times the best part of my week! It has a perfect class size of 3-5 people that is very helpful to practice conversational Korean but also get a lot of individual attention from teacher! read more

I'm currently enrolled in SJLC's 7-week Vietnamese 1 course that meets up every Thursday 8-9:30pm. I can't make it in-person, so I attend through Zoom. It's a fun, intimate class with one teacher and 2-4 students depending on attendance. I love how we're taught in Vietnamese AND English. When I attended Vietnamese classes growing up, it was fully in Vietnamese. I didn't really get anything out of those classes because I couldn't read, write, speak, or listen in Vietnamese at a fluent level. With SJLC, I can ask clarifying questions in English and don't feel judged if I make a mistake. S/O Thay Brian and My Linh! They're both awesome instructors and I plan on enrolling in Vietnamese 2 next month! I recommend anyone that wants to learn a new language to enroll in a SJLC class; I feel like I've found a new meaning of life in learning a new language. I can improve on it every day for the rest of my life, and it proves it's never too late to learn or relearn something! read more

SJLC has a great variety of language programs offered at flexible times, with hybrid & online classes. I've taken 2 Japanese programs with SJLC and love my experience so far. Highly recommend! read more

I've been wanting to learn Cantonese for a while now. I think there are very few places that offer lessons in this language. I signed up for Cantonese 1, it's a 7 week, 1.5 hour hybrid class, and I went in person. I had another classmate in person, and two who joined online. I really enjoyed our classes, getting to practice speaking with the instructor and my classmates. The lessons are packed with a lot of vocabulary, grammar structure, and conversational phrases. There is limited writing exercises, and not much reading learning, but I am okay with this, and perhaps it is more emphasized in later levels. The instructor Dolphin is very supportive and patient. She would bring in photos and props to class to help us learn. She would also would tell anecdotes about Cantonese media that we could check out in our free time. I highly believe that this is worth the investment, it is more interactive than language learning apps, and you get real feedback. I am able to talk to my mother and some friends, and they can actually understand what I am trying to get across. I am planning to take Cantonese 2, and would suggest anyone who is interested in learning Cantonese, to check out this school! read more

still enjoying my online class at SJLC, moving to lower intermediate conversation class with Haejin. would recommend!

I came to San Jose Learning Center almost 4 years ago to begin my Mandarin learning journey, and I ended up taking classes for about two years, which was an enjoyable, enriching experience. I went from knowing very little to being able to understand a lot, which has made a big difference in my life because now I'm raising a bilingual 3-year old with my Chinese husband. I can take my son to music class & his school and feel comfortable even when everyone is speaking Mandarin. I know much of what my husband and in-laws say to him and can get involved in family conversations I never would've otherwise understood. Now I would like to return to SJLC to sharpen my Spanish skills. I studied it for a long time, but I've gotten rusty over time, especially in complex grammatical concepts I don't often use. I speak Spanish at work as a teacher of mostly Latino students. It's amazing to have a place I can go for any of my language-learning needs or hobbies. I can't recommend it enough--the classes are high quality and very supportive of my personal and professional life! read more

I started learning Korean in-person at SJLC a few months ago, and I have been enjoying my classes so far! The once a week lessons are manageable with my work schedule, and I am learning so much more than if I was self-learning or using a language app. I highly recommend for anyone who is seriously interested in studying a new language read more

I've been wanting to learn ASL but wasn't sure where I could go to take classes. I found out about San Jose Learning Center and signed up for ASL 1 with Alexa. I originally wanted to take the class in-person, but due to my own schedule, decided to enroll in the online one. I was a bit unsure how much I'd be able to learn through an online course (as I usually prefer in-person classes), but I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the class and learned a lot from Alexa! I appreciate SJLC's wide variety of language offerings and flexibility with online, hybrid, and in-person classes. I'm looking forward to taking more classes! read more

I finished all levels of beginner classes and looking forward to begin the intermediate levels! Ami sensei is great! I feel lucky to systematically learn the beginner grammar in SJLC instead of learning myself. I just finished a 3 month Japanese cruise, and the things I learned here is beyond helpful! read more

I took the Cantonese Level 1 Course with Dolphin and had a great experience. She made sure everyone in the group had an understanding of each concept before moving on, something I wish happened in every classroom. She broke down sentence structure in a way that was really digestible. Would recommend, especially for brand new speakers. read more

I've taken adult beginner level 1 and level 2 Thai language with Kroo Ann and it's been super fun these few months of learning. She's the best language teacher and really good at fixing tones and pronounicatios which is what I needed as someone who could listen but not speak as frequently. It's very structured per lesson and we go over a specific topic, do homework, and review next class. Ann has really helpful beautiful presentations to guide students each level! A big pro is it's hybrid so there's options to do only online if you're out of town of San Jose and/or go in-person for a small group setting. Ann does a great job of keeping everyone engaged online and in-person! Class has been small but it's been cool to meet other students from other levels thru the community the teacher has built. Looking forward to continuing learning, speaking, and writing. read more

I'm a little bit more than halfway through Japanese 1 gradual with Victoria and I'm loving it. I was a bit nervous since I haven't formally taken any classes in a long time and my schedule itself is so busy, but doing gradual was the perfect pace. The class sizes are dependent on how many people sign up, and my current class size is 3, which is really nice and small. There is the ability to take classes in person or online, but I think learning in person is superior. I really like how nice and personable Victoria is. She points out a lot of differences between "textbook words" and how people actually speak in Japan, which is so useful. What I like about my experience with SJLC so far: - small class sizes - flexible (I initially signed up for intensive, but it went faster than I wanted, so they were able to switch me to the gradual course seamlessly) - flexibility to take classes online or in person (good if you have travel plans) - they offer so many languages I plan on continuing with Japanese 2 when my schedule allows, and would definitely recommend this language school and Victoria for Japanese :) read more

So happy that I found language learning classes through San Jose Learning Center! I was interested in learning Japanese and was initially taking a class through a local community college. While it was a good class, I found it was lacking the instruction I wanted due to it being an asynchronous class. I came across SJLC and decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did. I've taken Japanese classes with Kantaro for two sessions now, and feel like the classes fit my learning style much better. I appreciate that there are many days and times offered for classes, and each class is engaging. We go through the grammar concepts and vocabulary in depth, and Kantaro is always willing to answer any questions and provide context on when to use specific things we are learning. I also really enjoy having dedicated time to practice speaking with other students. These classes have motivated me to continue my learning of the Japanese language, and I feel like the concepts do stick for me because of the practice we do. If you're interested in picking up a language, I would highly recommend SJLC! read more

Taking Spanish 1. Teacher is engaging. Hybrid schedule is very convenient. Class size allows for all students to practice speaking. Good mix of vocabulary and grammar to build a foundation. read more

I've taken Spanish and Cantonese lessons at San Jose Learning Center. I took a hiatus between the two languages, but essentially have been a student since 2015 to present. What I love most about SJLC is the passion of all the teachers. The teachers are all enthusiastic about the languages they're teaching, and that goes a long way for students who - personally speaking - are pursuing the love of learning a new language while parenting and working a full time job. I have always felt that the instructors always bring the right energy and draw the right engagement from the students. The hours are flexible and since they've introduced hybrid, online-only options, I have enjoyed even more flexibility in their schedule offerings. And of course, I do feel I learn well with the instructors I've had in the past. I appreciate the balance of fun and seriousness in the learning and vibe at SJLC. Keep up the good work and thank you for keeping the love of language-learning going for the past few years in the Bay (and beyond for those online-only folks)! read more

Come and enrich your mind with a mental workouts. Learning languages is a great mental workout. I am currently enrolled with them. I am happy they are here in San Jose read more

I have now been learning Thai with Ann for one year, and I wanted to update my review. Ann is still one of the best language teachers I've ever had, and she makes learning Thai so engaging and fun. Ann is so encouraging that even when I struggle with difficult aspects of the language, I am still motivated to keep learning Thai. This year, Ann invited us to meditation sessions at the Thai temple in Fremont. I've really enjoyed the sessions I've been able to attend, and it's great to see the larger Thai community in the area. Ann's commitment to sharing not only the language but the culture is so impressive and fosters a community of like-minded, curious students. If you're even a little bit interested in learning Thai, I highly recommend Ann's classes. They're fun, engaging, and challenging in the best ways. I am so thankful to have found Ann's classes. I never thought I would be able to hold a conversation in Thai or be literate, and she has made that challenging journey so fun and worthwhile. I am beyond grateful for the Thai community through SJLC and am looking forward to continuing to be a part of it. read more

I've taken Korean a few places in the Bay and have got to say San Jose Learning Center is the best and most consistent. Both teachers I've had were kind, competent, and great at facilitating learning. I've taken a few "Level X" classes and am now doing a conversation class that is a little more free form, and both have been super fun and useful. Going in person was the best, but attending over Zoom is good too, and obviously a lot more flexible. If you meet some students you enjoy learning with, definitely try to coordinate with them to keep taking classes together - it really helps you stay motivated and keep things fun. read more

I have really enjoyed learning Japanese with Mari Sensei, my only complaint would be that I wish she taught twice a week instead of just once. She is an amazing, patient teacher, who is prepared and amazingly handles a zoom class and in person class simultaneously with unbelievable skill. I will be back for Japanese 3. read more

I take Mari Sensei's Japanese class every Thu at SJLS. It's something I look forward to even on a weekday after work. She puts a lot of effort into preparing her lessons, aiming to help students not only remember the vocabulary but also use it to express themselves. I will continue learning with her and have recently recommended her to two of my colleagues. read more

I'm really glad I found SJLC. I've always wanted to learn Cantonese so when I discovered SJLC offered hybrid classes it made learning convenient by being able to attend online if I couldn't attend in person. The emailed recordings of the classes are also very helpful to review information and continuing practicing at home. The lessons are manageable and make learning easy, especially with the small class size and guidance of a native speaker as the instructor to help with tone and pronunciation. The instructor I had for Cantonese, Tommy, was very helpful and knowledgeable, not just in answering all the questions I had about the grammatical structure of the language but also with providing background and history about the language and Cantonese culture. He was very patient with everyone and really wanted us to do well by continually having us practice the words, phrases, and sentence practice with each other. I know I'm still struggling (a lot) with tone, but I really hope to complete all 10 levels in the future through SJLC as I really believe it's a good place to learn. read more

It was very organized and the teachers/staff are very courteous and kind. The hybrid classes are also very thorough and I learned so much!

I took a Spanish 1 level course with Jaime and it was great! The teacher was very supportive of all of the students throughout the class. We went over a lot of the important basics and were consistently having conversations in Spanish during the class with our classmates. We also were able to tailor the class to the students' interests a bit - like focusing on learning Spanish that would help in specific relavent settings. For example, I'm a teacher and we were able to go over some information about how to talk to students and parents. Overall, I recommend the classes here! read more

I finished my Japanese 2 here. Teacher Sai is very nice and professional. Really recommend this to anyone interested in learning Japanese!

I recently took Japanese Level 7 with Ami sensei and she is great! Her class is very informative and fun. Her slides were well made and the class activities were very helpful, making us practice speaking a lot. I highly recommend her class if you are planning to take Japanese. read more

Yeah I was recommended the Japanese course at SJLC by my two friends Joshua and Elijah, and I'm glad that I decided give it a chance! It was great! I took Japanese Level 1 with Ami 先生. She is a great teacher, super patient and helpful, even if you're struggling and making mistakes. She uses real world examples for teaching vocabulary and grammar. The class is actually super intimate, which I was initially surprised by. There was only about 5 of us in the class, and we were constantly doing group activities and practicing with the teacher. Each student gets a good amount of attention from the teacher, and it really helps with the learning experience in my opinion. I had been doing 5 minute lessons on Duolingo for about a year, and I still felt like I learned a lot starting at Level 1! Definitely recommend level 1 even if you know a little bit from watching Anime or from self study, because you learn the fundamentals as well as the actual grammar rather than just memorizing phrases through repetition. My class was hybrid, which is quite nice. You can attend class in person or online. If you're online, you still get to participate in the group activities and practice sessions, and Ami will pop into your call and help you as well. Although I do recommend going in person for the more intimate experience, having the online option is nice for those who can't make it. Plus, the classes are recorded, so if you happen to miss class, you can catch up by watching the recording later! I will say the pace of the class is very quick, since you learn one topic after another without much review in between, so I definitely recommend doing your homework and self-study in between classes if you want the material to stick. As for SJLC, the venue is quite nice! There is ample parking in the lot, and the location is conveniently located right of the 101 on De La Cruz. Looking back, I definitely recommend SJLC for anyone looking to learn Japanese, especially if you're just starting out. Thank you Ami for being an awesome teacher! read more

I am taking the Mandarin 1 Intensive course (Hybrid) this fall and it has been an excellent experience! Sai is a great instructor and makes Mandarin very clear to understand. The center is clean and easy to find on top of being a welcoming environment for newcomers. From the front desk to the instructors, this place is ran by people who genuinely care about learning and becoming proficient in any language. I will definitely be coming back in January for the Mandarin Level 2 course. read more

I started taking Mandarin classes at SJLC a few months ago and have greatly enjoyed the classes. I've taken classes both virtually and in-person and both formats have been great experiences. The classes have been fun and engaging, which have helped me learn the material well. I would highly recommend taking languages classes at SJLC. read more

Japanese class with Ami sensei was awesome! Highly recommend for anyone who wants to get their feet wet with a new language. read more

San Jose Learning Center - Language Schools Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Taking French 1 course and really enjoying it! The hybrid class option is wonderful, I really appreciate the flexibility. Bertrand has been a great teacher so far :) read more

I've been taking their Korean classes for a while, and Teacher Haejin is so patient in working through all the vocabulary and grammar. She breaks it down in a way that's really easy to pick up, and is often willing to give extra help for those students who are struggling with certain concepts. read more

Fun, well-paced language class. I enrolled in Korean for fun and I'm enjoying the course so far. Soonhye is very friendly and passionate. It is not a super intensive course, which is good because I work full-time. read more

I've been taking the Intermediate Spanish Conversation with Thiago at San Jose Learning Center and it's been really fun and also very useful. I can feel myself become more fluent and I like interacting with the other students and talking about what happened in our week. For homework we're each watching a Spanish language telenovela and it's fun to talk about the shows. I'm looking forward to my next class with Thiago! read more

I've been taking Vietnamese classes at the San Jose Learning Center for about six months now, and I couldn't be happier with the experience! From day one, the staff has been welcoming, professional, and truly dedicated to helping students succeed. The Vietnamese class is both engaging and informative--I've learned so much in a short amount of time. The instructor is patient, knowledgeable, and always finds ways to make the lessons fun and practical. I really appreciate the focus on vocabulary and conversation exercises. By practicing speaking with other students in class, it has helped me feel much more confident using the language in real-life situations. The class sizes are small enough that everyone gets individual attention, and the atmosphere is relaxed and supportive. It's clear that the Learning Center really cares about creating a positive learning environment for all of their students. read more

I wanted to follow up on a previous review for San Jose Learning Center. I've completed several quarters here consecutively thanks to Ami Sensei's patience and support. Life got busy and I missed several Zoom classes, however, with the class recording I was able to follow along. Her lovely emails encouraging me to re-join class gave me hope that I had not completely lost ground. I've taken classes from several Washington State Japanese language schools over the years, whose teachers have not been as patient or motivating. Some have been insulting of students who don't know the answers right away! Due to these reasons, I never finished the Genki 2 book due to life's busy-ness but finally will next quarter. Thank you, Ami Sensei, for being a kind yet firm teacher. read more