My son started classes at SF Spanish and he absolutely love it. He enjoys the different topics every week and the material that is provided. I will definitely recommend that classes and the teacher is amazing and very knowledgeable. read more

Unprofessional instructors, rude, expensive, and overall judgmental experience. Don't recommend

I love SF Spanish. I've had nothing but great experiences. I look forward to my lessons with Carmen every week, even days ahead of time, as well as the occasional workshops SF Spanish holds on various topics. My lessons are the one bright spot in all the stress of work, COVID, and other worries. Carmen is fascinating. She is so knowledgeable on almost every topic, it's astonishing. She answers all my questions about linguistics, culture, food and wine, politics, and history and we chat casually so that I can practice. She is very easy to talk to, but also not afraid to correct my mistakes (which is what I need). She gets you talking so you don't feel shy. She puts you at ease. Carmen also puts up with my idiosyncrasies, like wanting to practice my Spanish accent (i.e., peninsular Spanish), attempting to learn vosotros, and using words common to Spain. She even tells me when I'm using a word more common in Latin America and teaches me the peninsular version. Carmen goes out of her way to find articles she knows will interest me and teach me things, often things she knows I'll like but that she also knows I've never heard of. She also lets me come up with my own essay topics and then, after going over the grammar, we discuss the substance and often debate. It's great fun. I also want to say that Estefanía in the office is great and always responds quickly to help schedule or answer questions. Romina sounds great too, but I haven't had the chance to meet her yet. Overall, I can't recommend SF Spanish highly enough. If you can't travel (or better yet, are using COVID as an opportunity to practice your Spanish for future travel), the lessons make you feel as if you were in Spain having a coffee with a friend. I should also mention that in the past few months I've been working with Carmen, my Spanish has improved dramatically, so it's not only fun, it's working! read more

Spectacular environment for learning and building confidence speaking Spanish! Getting together in a small group with other folks that are at your level is a great opportunity to practice speaking in a comfortable environment. Romina and the other instructors are incredibly knowledgeable, enthusiastic and encouraging - and provide tons of materials to help practice in between classes. The admin team is also always entirely accommodating and helpful. Two thumbs up! read more

Very stuffy (unpleasant odor) inside the small school. Unfortunately not a pleasant place to sit while waiting. Very little exposure to the teacher; I found it odd that they wouldn't allow a new-to-the-school parent to sit in on a few minutes of a class, and also that they wouldn't allow a drop-in and insisted that students sign up for a six-week series. (Saying that, had I had any experience with them I would not have signed up for the six-week series.) After the six weeks, my (5yo) son still cannot say "hello" in Spanish. read more

So much fun to see progress! I've been taking classes at SF Spanish for a little over a year now. Originally, I started taking classes to learn a little Spanish in advance of a trip to Chile, with my foreign language experience being only a little high school French over ten years ago. Even though I just had a couple months of classes, getting some basics made me so much more confident traveling, and I was so encouraged by the experience that I decided to keep up the lessons. Now a year later, I just got back from a trip to Mexico and wow! I couldn't believe how far I've come--I was meeting and connecting with new people, all in a foreign language. I think the small, conversational style of the classes has really been key to helping me stick with it. Talking about what I did last weekend or describing the plot of a movie I watched in Spanish, in a setting where it feels safe to make lots of mistakes and stumble over my words, feels casual and not like a classroom. My classes have usually had just three people, sometimes four, so it's very personal. It's been fun to get to know my teacher, Laura, and the other students through talking about what's been going on in our lives each week. Don't get me wrong: learning a new language is still work, and it was definitely challenging at first when I was starting from zero, but the format of SF Spanish made it really unintimidating for a new speaker. read more

I was a loyal student for over 6 months (a few years ago) and then went back after 1.5 years because I liked their one teacher. However, I had a major problem with SF Spanish's owner ROMINA now. Their ad says they are open 7 am - 9:30 pm. I called at 8 am and left a voicemail that I could not make it the next day for class (this was over 24 hour notice which falls within their 24 hour policy for cancellation). Then, the admin assistant Estefania calls me saying she picked up my voicemail at 1 pm, so it's less than 24 hour notice and did not credit me with an additional class. Unethical way of doing business. As a student who saw the "existing" hours of business, I did the right thing by giving them 24 hour notice but they say they only check messages between 1 pm and 5 pm. NOT MY PROBLEM. I hope the owner starts to operate ethically and has the courage to pick up the phone and call me to discuss the matter but since she is in the wrong, I guess I will not get that call. For $55, she lost a loyal student who was paying for private lessons. And I thought education and good teachers paid off, but Romina clearly does not care about that and only the $55. Poor thinking. I would not recommend signing up with SF Spanish but if you do, please follow their STRICT schedule that makes no accommodations for ANYONE. read more

I've been taking lessons for almost 2 years at SF Spanish and have improved tremendously. My daughter also started in the toddlers class a year ago and loves her teacher, has learned so much and has made our Spanish speaking experience so much fun! read more

I signed up for Spanish classes prior to my trip to Argentina. I worked one on one with Romina, who is from Buenos Aires. Not only did does she have creative and very useful ways to teach, she was also able to teach me the difference between the Spanish you may use in México or Spain, and the correct way to pronounce words/grammar in Argentina. I have not taken any Spanish classes since high school and I finished my block of classes having a conversation with Romina about our lives. I still have a way to go, but if you are planning a trip or just want to improve, SF Spanish is your place. read more

After more than a year now with SF Spanish, I still highly recommend it for anyone looking to learn Spanish quickly and effectively, and have a lot of fun doing so. Classes are informal and conversation based (entirely in Spanish) and they ensure you earn all the verb tenses and important grammar. They provide just the right amount of "formal" teaching and reinforcement with writing exercises to keep you advancing consistently. The outside activities (ex. parties, cooking workshops, videos) provide more supportive opportunities to practice and gently make you tiptoe out of your comfort zone. The instructors are absolutely top-notch. Alicia is my main instructor and my personal favorite. She's warm, friendly, very easy to talk to, and prepared and willing to answer whatever questions I have. She comes up with inventive, interesting assignments that also provide good practical context for otherwise complicated concepts (the subjunctive anyone?). All and all, it's been a great experience - I look forward to my twice-weekly lessons via Skype and feel like I've gained a new perspective on the richness and intricacies of the language. Resources I'd had from the start: 1. www.notesinspanish.com - Best web/printed resource for spanish learning I've found. Highly recommend buying the worksheets that accompany the free podcasts. 2. http://vimeo.com/camarana - Ana (instructor who is also another favorite of mine) made a really entertaining web series "Spanish Lessons" that is basically telenovela spanish lessons. FTW! read more

I've been attending classes at SF Spanish for a few months now and I have to admit that I'm hooked. I'm a terrible student and not particularly disciplined, however I really feel like I'm learning great skills and always try my best to never miss a class. It's the combination of small classes, great classmates and most importantly, really friendly and energetic teachers that make this the perfect place to study Spanish, regardless of what level you're at. SF Spanish also organizes social events so you can practice your Spanish and meet new people - it's a huge confidence booster and a lot of fun. I've tried a few language classes elsewhere and hands down, SF Spanish is the best. It's also great value, given the small class sizes and tailored lessons. Thanks to Romina, Federico, Juan and Dolores for re-igniting my interest in the Spanish language! read more

SF Spanish rocks! I have been studying with Romina - founder and teacher at SF Spanish - for over a year now. My Spanish has improved tons since I first started with classes. Romina is fantastic, as are all the other teachers who are native-speakers from different Spanish-speaking countries. I have taken Spanish courses throughout my schooling, but without regular use and practice I was not retaining it. I'm Latina so what gives not being able to speak Spanish? SF Spanish has been a great way to practice and speak the language in a fun and friendly environment. I'm a bit shy, but Romina creates a comfortable space to make mistakes and learn. I really enjoy the small class sizes, the interaction with a diverse group of students and the focus on speaking the language. It is also an affordable price which means it's not out of reach for my non-profit salary. I highly recommend studying with SF Spanish. If you want to get out of the classroom and out of the textbook to learn a language, I recommend SF Spanish. read more

I started taking Spanish for the first time a few months ago, and am about to head off to Chile and Argentina for a few months. SF Spanish has been totally great! My beginning classes have mostly involved an hour and a half of conversation in Spanish, plus some teaching of grammatical structures, and some reading aloud of writing assignments from homework. There was of course a steep learning curve while we learned enough words to complete sentences, but we have always talked in Spanish during class, which I find very practical. I have studied a number of languages in the past in more formal settings, and I wish I had more classes per week so that I could spend more time studying, but I do think that if you're going to spring for Spanish classes, you have to just decide you're going to also study independently. I haven't studied anywhere else in SF. The class has changed size week to week, as people come and go without ceremony, but our class has always been under 6 people, and I feel like we all have time to talk, listen, and ask questions. We've gotten to have several teachers, just through needing substitutes, and they are all fabulous, interesting people-- all the more reason to attend the quarterly parties, when they come up! I wish I had gone to the one that happened right when I started taking classes, but I was too nervous (in retrospect, for no reason). Anyway, I couldn't be more positive about my experience here, and I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

I have tried to learn to speak Spanish several times. I have taken formal classes, hired a private tutor and even traveled in South America. I'd never get very far with the language, I'd get discouraged and quit. But my interest in South America continues and in 2016 I had to try learning to speak Spanish one-more-time. This time I searched for an 'immersion' school. SF Spanish in San Francisco got my attention right away because one of the classes they offer is a springtime, 10 day immersion class in Buenos Aires. I decided to start with one of their beginners classes at their Filmore St location. SF Spanish has a unique and consistent teaching format for reading, writing and speaking Español during every class. There is plenty of individual attention, while at the same time, the teachers are good at keeping the class focused and moving forward. The classrooms are casual and friendly which pushes me to be accountable. I have been taking classes at SF Spanish for four months now and I have begun to read, speak and write in Español! It's amazing to me. My teacher, Esteban, is encouraging and enthusiastic and I know he cares about my progress. I'm inspired to work on my language skills every day and I always look forward to my next class. ¡Hasta luego! read more

SFSpanish is one of the best language schools I have ever worked with, if not the best. I have had countless language teachers, some good, some bad, but the consistency of SFSpanish's excellence has been utterly consistent. I personally have worked the most with Romina, also the person who runs the school, and she has a mix of qualities that make for an excellent language learning environment. She is non-judgemental, kind, fun, and funny, all of which make for a relaxes learning environment where one can feel comfortable speaking, but the real magic is that she is able to help you with pronunciation or grammar in a non-obtrusive way that doesn't ruin the flow of the conversation. Furthermore, it is very clear that her priority is not making as much money as possible or as churning through as many students as possible, but rather creating an environment where students can flourish. She cares deeply about making sure that every student is a good match with their teacher (and with their group if it is a group class). This level of care is unsurpassed with other language schools. I also have met all of the other teachers, and while I have not had classes with them, I can say that Romina has a knack (perhaps a passion, even) for finding teachers that buy into this shared set of values. Language learning is about values and culture way beyond academic ability (though she and her teachers have all of these in spades), and I think many schools focus on people who know their grammar without focusing on people who students actually want to talk to. Languages are fundamentally about people. We learn languages to interact with others and to read and understand the things that other cultures have produced. SF Spanish gets this. They get that it's about people so they bring together great people and let the magic happen. read more

I love SF Spanish! I was looking for a place to take classes to improve my very poor high school level Spanish in preparation for a 5 week trip to Argentina, and when I found SF Spanish I knew this was the perfect place for me. I love the learning environment - small groups with classmates that are at your level and you can only speak Spanish. It is such a welcoming place to learn, everybody takes off their shoes and we sit on cushions or on comfy chairs - so much more inviting that a typical classroom setting. The focus is on conversation, and in my class we often start off talking about what we did over the weekend, that day, etc. before moving into our grammar lessons. Mariana is my teacher and she is a lot of fun as well as a great, supportive teacher, and I have learned so much in her classes. Another reason why I knew that SF Spanish was the perfect place for me was that the Immersion program coincided with the time when I was going to go to Argentina, so I started off my trip with the Immersion program in Buenos Aires. The program was fantastic - it was a combination of grammar lessons as well as excursions around Buenos Aires, and of course, it was all in Spanish. It was a lot of fun to meet new SF Spanish friends and we had some really hilarious experiences due to language barriers all while improving my Spanish. Romina led the group, and because she is from Argentina, we were able to experience Buenos Aires from a locals point of view. I had an awesome time and would highly recommend it! read more

I'm an SFSpanish enthusiast and can't recommend Romina and her teachers highly enough. The overview: 1) Consistently enthusiastic, organized, effective teachers across the board. 2) Small classes with private options. 3) Customizable, flexible program. 4) Energetic student & teaching community with lots of practice options. 5) Ridiculously cost-effective. 6) Easy online scheduling and payment system. 7) Professional. The details: I started four months ago taking private classes twice a week with Romina, who runs the school. She's energetic, very organized, patient, tireless (and a stickler for pronunciation!). Several weeks ago she suggested I substitute a group class for one of our private sessions. She thought it a good idea to practice speaking with a teacher with a different accent, plus she thought I'd enjoy the group dynamic. Romina took time to select a group and it was a great fit right off the bat. She coordinated my transition and checks in with my new teacher Dolores. I really appreciate how Romina seems to watching out for all her students and their progress. I also really enjoy all the extra opportunities to practice Spanish. Romina organizes free fiestas every couple of months with games, snacks, drinks, and lots of conversation. And the empanada class with Sandro was fun! Last week was the open house party, complete with Boggle Espanol! (Ha! It was actually a gift from a student, who modified the English Boggle game with ñ, é and ll!) There's also a jam-packed website full of stuff that I haven't even tackled. Anyway, Romina has created a dynamic community of learners and teachers in San Francisco and it's fun to be a part of it. I am adding a third group class per week in preparation for an immersion trip to Buenos Aires, which Romina organizes at least every year. In short: SFSpanish is fun and professional. I look forward to my classes and enjoy being part of the larger community Romina and her team have created. read more

This is an awesome way to learn Spanish. I purchased 8 classes and really enjoyed the experience, so I purchased another 8 classes. The teachers are really kind and know how to teach really well. The best thing about this is that the classes are small, so you get a lot of personal attention. Gracias Romina y Natalia! read more

You have to pay for your assessment, but it is like a private lesson. I have had an assessment and a private with Dolores who was kind, patient and knowledgeable. I am taking privates, although they are more than twice the cost of groups, because the class I was placed in conflicted with my schedule so I cannot comment on groups yet. I am working to get into the next group up. I have since had a private with Mariana and she is great as well. I have now progressed to the Beginner 2 group with Mariana before I finished my privates which is nice. They are 1.5 hours vs. the 1 hour private, and there are 2 other students in this group. I am learning, and enjoying it very much. read more

SF Spanish is the coolest language school! Not only are they easy-going and casual, you truly LEARN Spanish by using it in many contexts (something you don't get in traditional schools or with a software). We've had off-site classes and field-trips and they are sooo much fun! Not to mention the workshops and immersions they offer, plus the "Speak Spanish-Only" parties (with free wine/drinks & snacks! and pretty cool games too). We also play games in some classes, a very relaxing way to practice any language. I've never had an issue with classes being refunded or credited. The only times I didn't expect a refund were just fair and made sense: In any school, whatever the subject, you need to cancel a class with some anticipation, and also arrive on-time to classes (especially to the "field-trips" --not to be confused with "no-shows"). Romina is an excellent instructor and business-owner, and she's very patient with all her students, yet tough enough to get you speaking --some of us need a little push now & then-- ; ) I'm just glad to be getting my Spanish back in shape! Travis read more

I started taking classes at SF Spanish about 3 months ago and I only have good things to say about it. Pablo is a wonderful teacher, easygoing, funny, and the classes are so entertaining I hardly notice time passing. The classes are tailored to my specific needs, we discuss themes that have to do with my universe, including professional situations in which I need to use Spanish. He doesn't EVER let me speak English, which is great, because otherwise you never learn. After only 2-3 months of class I feel so much more confident using Spanish at work and I was able to communicate pretty fluently with everybody in a recent trip to Mexico. So overall I am very satisfied and I highly recommend SF Spanish in general and Pablo in particular if you're looking to improve your skills in this fascinating language :) read more

I write this review with a heavy heart, and I'll try to keep it short, as I think those are the most helpful ones to glance through. My experience with SF Spanish was wholly unsatisfying. Very insulting. I signed up through the website for a package of 4 classes to start -- I intended to begin that same week, on a Saturday. I received a confirmation email from a representative one day before the meeting. It was long and I was confused by the info as it said new students had to begin with 8 classes. There was some info about an assessment as well. This didn't make sense to me as I was already charged and under the assumption that I was ready to begin like anyone else...why would such an online transaction go through otherwise? I went to the class on a Saturday morning and no one showed. I called the company's phone number and found that it was merely an answering service without any useful information whatsoever (seriously, nothing). They took my message and said I'd hear back from someone during regular biz hours. That never happened. I then went through a very confusing series of emails with a representative. She was clearly trying her best to communicate, but there appeared to be, perhaps ironically, a language incompatibility. I was eventually referred to the CEO. I was relieved! The phone call with the CEO was worst of all. Though she, too, was clearly trying her best (disgracefully), I was told the following: 1. The CEO giggled -- seriously giggled -- as she informed me that I did something apparently unusual by signing up through the website and not the phone number (recall that it is an answering service -- indeed they can book classes, but cannot provide answers to any other questions or concerns). 2. I was then told that the website is problematic and does not function according to the limits, requirements and recommendations of the company -- you might want to read that part again. 3. She insisted that I sign up for 8 classes and get an assessment despite the fact that I had not paid for that nor was I in any way prepared to. 4. I was offered a free private class due to the Saturday no-show. That sounded good, sort of. 5. After explaining more than 3 times over that I signed up for 4 classes, only intended to pay for 4 classes (and definitely not 4 more), and that it's not my fault or problem that the website does not function properly...I was told I would be refunded the full amount. 6. I told the CEO that I was disappointed -- that a refund was not exactly what I wanted. If anything, I wanted the right to attend the 4 classes I had been charged for (as last time I checked goods and services are exchanged for currencies). She told me some things about company preferences (I won't call them policies as policies are somehow legitimated) -- that sounded fine for her, but I didn't see what any of this had to do with the money I had already spent and how it justified the proposition that I spend twice as much as I had intended. 7. I reluctantly accepted the refund and the free private lesson only to find that when I called the "main number" to book it (mind you I had learned that signing up through the website could prove problematic), they could not confirm that I had a free private lesson and asked, again, that I leave a message. My call was never returned. I was really excited about getting started with this company. The curriculum sounded outstanding (reading WikILeaks in Spanish? Awesome!). Disgraceful professionalism and abhorrent infrastructure lead me to pull out and find another source altogether. Hope things drastically improve for clients and company alike. read more

This review is just in regards to trying to book a class. I had more questions than beyond what the website addressed (if I can't attend each class on a weekly basis due to work travel, will I lose the payment on that class?). I called the number on the website and reached what appeared to be a call service. She read off a script and couldn't answer my question. She took my information and told me someone would call me back. 48 hours later, I finally got an email with a bunch of miscellaneous information, still none of it answering my question. I again requested a phone call. 24 hours later, I got one. After asking my question ten different ways (is this not a common question for people who work Mon-Fri in San Francisco?) the lady I was speaking with finally told me YES- it was ok if I missed a weekly class, I would not be charged. Onto my next question, many other companies offer the first class complimentary to see if I like their format, does SF Spanish do the same? SF Spanish does not offer this. Furthermore, an initial assessment for $50 is required. Furthermore, because they only had two people enrolled in the intro classes, my minimum investment would have to be over $300 and I would have to purchase 12 classes. Geez, good thing I called. This certainly wasn't explained on the website. Suffice to say, I opted out of SF Spanish due to all the entry fees and the confusing process. Instead, I am paying $13/hour for a Skype Spanish class taken in the comfort of my own home within hours of my choosing with a trained spanish professor who speaks impeccable english and spanish. Check out Live Lingua instead. read more

When I finally decided to learn Spanish, I looked all over for a place that will give me time and patience to learn. Eventually I found SF Spanish it was what I was looking for. The staff is very nice and patience, and their schedule is as flexible as I wanted. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in learning Spanish to enroll at SF Spanish. Thank you all. read more

Things started out so well with SF Spanish and steadily declined. The teachers switched often and without much notice, but the most frustrating part was astoundingly poor service. There is a 48-hour cancellation policy on group classes. When you call in their staff pick up the phone but don't relay the message in time (or at all), resulting in forfeiting class and the money paid for it. Furthermore, their call staff insist that you cancel online but cannot explain how to do this over the phone or email. Classes here can be good but it's not worth putting up with the hassle. Avoid. read more

I have been attending SF Spanish and just want to say, it's a great place to learn, and the professionalism of the staff is outstanding. The fact I speak some Italian has made it much easier to navigate, but even if I didn't, the experience with Cayo has been a wonderful thing. read more

I specifically opened this Yelp account to write a review for SF Spanish and I regret not reading the other reviews prior to purchasing classes. I am deeply, thoroughly disgusted with the lack of preparation, consistency and guidance for the Wednesday Beginner 1C class. Please note that this class is hosted by the director herself. In the last 6 weeks, classes have been cancelled three times due to their ridiculous minimum-student policy. (Note- you have already paid for classes but SF Spanish cannot guarantee that you will actually have a class every week...Hmm...) For the cancelled classes, no alternative/make-up classes were offered until I specifically made a request! (No proactive response from SF Spanish) I requested a refund for the remaining classes. The director refused on the grounds that it was a "small business" and I was asked- by the director- to continue based on the "merit" of the few previously held classes. Are you kidding? Also, don't be fooled by that "carefully tailored language classes" descriptor. For the three classes I've had, we have basically discussed weekend plans (each student talks about what they did over the weekend) and maybe watched a 2 minute video...or completed a worksheet... I still haven't received the homework for the 3 cancelled classes and if all students don't complete homework, then it's not even discussed. I came to SF Spanish to prepare for an exam, which I expressed to the team BEFORE purchasing classes. Due to SF Spanish's failure to maintain a consistent schedule, I had to reschedule my exam. I don't have more time to waste with them and am now submitting a complaint with the BBB to fight for my refund. STAY AWAY- for an example of how they conduct business, I've copied the director's response to my refund request below: Dear Rasheida, Thank you for your email. I'm very sorry to hear that you are unhappy with your experience with SF Spanish classes and are considering leaving. You mentioned that you had three classes cancelled and three substitutes, and you requested a refund for three classes. Unfortunately, I cannot offer a refund as sales in this small business are indeed final. (The class that you have scheduled for tomorrow is too late to cancel for credit back to your account, as well.) However, I personally apologize as I could not teach the class due to complications with my recent pregnancy. I am now better. In addition, I hope that you can appreciate that we are a small school with a unique approach to classes. All of our instructors are familiar with this conversation-based teaching style, and each one is qualified to support your language proficiency level. Scheduling of group classes is also based on a set number of students in order to ensure high quality classes. Thank you for bringing to my attention that you were not offered other times and classes when individual classes were cancelled. I'm sorry about this and will make sure this lapse does not happen again. Again, apologies for your experience. I encourage you to consider continuing on the merit of the individual classes you have attended, but I will understand if you would not like to continue. I hope to see you in class tomorrow. Best, Romina read more

Folks, SF Spanish really rocks! The teachers are first class, the owner/director is an attentive business owner and fantastic teacher. What makes it stand out from the rest of the schools however, are the quarterly parties!! It's has been so much fun over the years to get know other regular students and welcome new people into the mix! I really encourage people to sign up today and not only take advantage of the professional studies, but also the SF Spanish community. !! read more

Took private instruction with Romina before a trip to Spain and she was extremely helpful in giving me confidence and knowing how to interact in the day to day in Spain. Thanks Romina! read more

¡Romina es lo mejor! :-) She is the best Spanish teacher I have had (and I've had a lot). She is a voracious corrector and stickler for pronunciation -- both very necessary qualities in an effective teacher. Romina has a fun personality -- my group regularly shares more than a few laughs each session. I find the articles about current events she gives us to read very interesting (especially those about world political events) and really enjoy my weekly class. I found her randomly on Craiglist last June and am so glad I did. When I went back to Perú this past summer (I spent half of 2009 in South America) my Peruvian friends complemented me on my improved Spanish skills. I highly recommend Romina! read more

My 6-year-old loves the group Spanish kids' class!

I had the pleasure of studying Spanish with Romina of SF Spanish before a trip to Argentina. She is a fantastic teacher! She emphasized exactly what is needed for successful conversation: comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary, useful expressions and constructions. Learning a new language is not easy, but Romina will encourage you to make the most progress in the shortest time! read more

I have been taking 1-on-1 private lessons at SF Spanish for over a year now and I could not be happier with my experience. They have created a customized curriculum just for me, my language background and my learning goals. I love the style and structure of the classes - very casual learning experience based around conversation, no English speaking allowed (the tough-love real-results approach to learning a language!) and helpful homework, readings, and movie recommendations. I did not know one word of Spanish when I started with Romina and SF Spanish and now I can hold a conversation and understand my Argentinian in-laws! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

Romina is a superb tutor with a sense of humor and an eye for what her students need. She is attentive to detail and personalizes her approach based on her students' interests. For example, I was learning tango, and one of the things we did together was translate the lyrics of tango songs. She is thorough and friendly and I recommend her very highly for anyone who wants to improve their Spanish. read more

Tried this a few years ago for my daughter. I think they didn't have a curriculum for kids yet, because it was obvious to both me, the kid, and the other parents that they were floundering most of the time. More than half the class time was watching videos, the other half was coloring. Not much left for actual, hands on teaching. After a few months we and the two other sets of parents gave up and pulled our kids out. I wanted my daughter to at least finish the project they had started together. Romina took my money for the extra class knowing what I wanted and then didn't allow the kid to give her presentation anyway. That was, honestly, just cruel. Bad service, bad teaching method, bad attitude. Shocked they're still around. Maybe their better at what they do now, but they were definitely beta testing on our kids and charging us for it too. Not cool. read more

My son just completed 10 classes at SF Spanish, and has come so far already! The teachers here are awesome with children (& parents), and really help them enjoy learning Spanish through songs and activities. If you want your kids, especially toddlers, to get started on learning Spanish, I highly recommend bringing them here! read more

SF Spanish is great. Romina has a remarkably strong understanding of grammar, vocabulary and the structure of language. She uses these skills to compare and contrast how to say things in Spanish. It's really helped me to comprehend how the language works and remember how to use it. Romina is very personable. I really enjoy working with her and look forward to class! read more

The is the best find in all of San Francisco. I have been looking around for a way to study Spanish for some time. Everything was confused (CCSF) or inconvenient or expensive. I was looking at big classes sitting in a chair with 25 people as someone lectures on a chalk board. Then I found SFSpanish. I don't know how they do it, it must be out of love!! I put my name on a list, and waited until they got enough students interested to start a class. We started our first class with 2 students, one more the next week and now we have 4 - Thats FOUR- students for 90 minutes with a professor. Who is fantastic. Its conversational, convenient, non-stress. The way it is done is amazing, and it is so inexpensive. There is nothing I have done in years that is this much fun and feel this good about. read more

My Spanish ability has greatly improved since I started taking classes with Romina several months ago. She is quite a stickler for grammar and pronunciation, which is great! She really has a gift for teaching and for constructively correcting her students. She is very enthusiastic and makes every class productive and fun. If you are looking for quality Spanish classes, I cannot recommend SF Spanish enough! read more

This is a great group to learn/improve your Spanish with. The emphasis is definitely on speaking and listening through the course of normal conversation - like the way you learn a language growing up. I like this style much better than how I learned in high school where you focus on units of specific vocabulary or verbs that go together e.g "at the restaurant", "at the beach", etc. I think studying at SF Spanish is more natural and useful if you actually want to speak Spanish functionally with the people you come across in your daily life. Also the group members and teachers are friendly and the diversity of accents and vocabulary used due to everyone's various backgrounds gives me a more well-rounded understanding of the language. read more