Let's just say we've been driving to ISLA for nine years, starting with my daughter who is now in…read moreeighth grade when we could've had the kids take the bus from three houses away. I've been a substitute teacher for seven years, I've subbed at ISLA and I've subbed at about about 50 other schools in the Twin Cities metro. This is an amazing school! They have two classes of every grade from kindergarten to sixth grade. They cap the classes at 25 students. They also have a preschool in the building which is convenient if you have younger children. The school has won awards, it's a blue ribbon school and it's an inter-national baccalaureate school. It's a highly rated charter school in the state of Minnesota. They have a library, a gym, and office in the classrooms. It's an office building that was specifically converted to be a school. I did have to take my daughter out after fourth grade because she needed more special ed help. Most charter schools don't specialize in special ed. They'll do their best because they're legally required to provide those services. But we felt she would be better served in her local school district with a larger team to help her out. Your child to be greeted by name by smiling happy teachers and staff and if you know any Spanish, they will be correcting your pronunciation about a month into kindergarten. No regrets!

I've worked with Ed at Workplace Languages to translate materials for a client, and the experience…read morehas been nothing but exceptional. Ed is always quick to respond and is great about getting us the materials in a timely manner. A couple of times we had to send him materials last minute that we didn't expect to be translated, and he did it immediately. He is very organized (we sent him TONS of materials that needed translation) and everything we've received turns out great. If you're looking for a translation partner, I would highly recommend Ed and his team. Thank you so much Ed!

From the owner: Workplace Languages, a St. Paul, Minnesota based company, has been providing business language…read moresolutions since 1998. We are a true partner and will meet all of your company's language-related needs. Workplace Languages differentiates itself through our customer service, pricing, and a proven track record of delivering results for over 20 years. No matter the business language solution offered, the core values will always remain the same for Workplace Languages. Relationships with corporate language clients and partners will always be the foundation of our business. Unparalleled customer service, affordable pricing, and return on investment are all staples with every client and every project. Workplace Languages will meet all the goals your company has for its business language solutions. From translations and over-the phone interpretation to language classes and bilingual training products, Workplace Languages is your full-service language provider. Any Language. Any Industry. Any Time.

I was here for the first time recently to see an art exhibit. Four artists were sharing their work…read moredocumenting their travels through France through sketching. The event was held upstairs in a room with amazing views of the Minneapolis skyline. What a fun place! It was full of so much energy on a Sat morning. People were enjoying pastries and coffees from the on-site cafe. I walked through the library and gift shop. I'm so glad I was able to visit and learn about this place. What a fun place to go to practice your French. Adieu!

Beautiful Surroundings, The best I Have Seen And Enjoyed In A Very Long Time…read more Wishful Thinking, If I Could Visit Daily! Thoughts Of Paradise... Donald Johnson

was adopted from Costa Rica at birth and raised for most of my life in Minnesota. Growing in a…read morepredominantly white community and raised by white patents family; I had no real connections to my heritage, cultural or background. Learning to speak Spanish has been a lifelong dream to help provide that connection to my story of origin. After visiting my country of origin this past year, the determination to learn became even more prevalent. I had taken Spanish in high school but wanted to find a program that could provide a more meaningful experience. I have tried all kinds of learning programs over the years including- Rosetta Stone, app-based learning systems like Duolingo and Babel; I even did community education classes, and while all were good in their own right, that connection of culture, and community was the missing piece. I found Luis and Rojas Spanish doing a local search, and it's been an incredible experience. Luis' unique approach to instruction combines small group learning, real-life conversational lessons, and a welcoming snd no-pressure space for learning Spanish. The Rojas program creates a welcoming environment for learners at all levels. You can join in-person classes or participate online. Each week his guided and immerse lessons helps increase confidence in speaking, writing and comprehension. I absolutely recommend Rojas!

I have been searching for a local spanish language school that focuses on conversation vs grammar…read more I found Rojas on line and couldn't be happier. The school is on line during the pandemic and there are multiple classes during the week. This is exactly what I have been looking for. If you want to learn Spanish in a welcoming environment and are nervous about jumping in or sounding stupid Rojas is the school for you!

We have loved our experience at Mis Amigos in Excelsior. It's in a great location and the staff is…read moreattentive, organized and gives our children a fun experience. We have been at other Spanish Immersion schools in the metro and Mis Amigos is one of the best we've seen. Grateful for the staff and all they do for our kids everyday!

We moved our daughter to Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool after being at one of those new,…read moreshiny daycares with the modern building and brand-new toys. While that seemed like the "right" choice at the time, we made the switch when Mis Amigos opened, drawn by its proximity to home and my strong desire for our daughter to be in a Spanish immersion program. I'll be honest--I had a lot of fears and doubts at first. Switching schools is a TERRIFYING decision. But now? I am so incredibly happy we made the move. There's so much more we're getting at Mis Amigos that I didn't even realize was missing before. The warmth and dedication of the teachers is next level. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the love, care, and passion they bring to their roles. Teacher turnover is extremely low, and it shows. There's a real sense of family among the staff, and that connection trickles down to the kids--you can see and feel it. Unlike our previous daycare experience, staffing has never been an issue. We've never been asked to keep our child home because of a teacher shortage--rain or shine, they are there. That reliability alone has been such a relief. Another huge difference? Our daughter barely gets sick anymore. At our last daycare, it felt like we were constantly battling colds, viruses, RSV, HF&M, Norovirus, stomach bugs, the works. Since joining Mis Amigos, it's been a night-and-day difference. I credit the smaller size of the school, and the teachers' consistent focus on hygiene--hand washing and sanitizing are clearly a priority and it makes a world of difference. Something else I didn't fully appreciate until we joined Mis Amigos is the food. Not all daycares include food in their tuition, and even fewer offer such a variety--let alone fresh, high-quality meals. Knowing that my child is being served nutritious, well-balanced food every day without me needing to pack lunches or stress about what she's eating is such a relief. It's just one more way Mis Amigos goes above and beyond. Mis Amigos isn't just a daycare--it's truly a school. From such a young age, the children are learning colors, letters, songs, and even how to recognize and express their emotions. The teachers post pictures about what they children are up to, and I've taken ideas home with me on activities I can do to help support her development that I would have not otherwise known to focus on at her age. The schools puts on themed and plays and festivals and the children all have a part and watch and parents are invited. The programming and creativity of activities is wonderful! And if you're worried--like my husband was--that your child might fall behind developmentally because they're in a non-English speaking environment, please don't be. Our daughter speaks English fluently with her peers, understands her teachers' Spanish perfectly, and is now coming home singing in Spanish, pointing out things using Spanish words, and even asking us for their English translations and vice versa. It's beautiful to see how her brain is learning to think in two languages--it's truly a gift we are proud to be giving her. I could rave about Mis Amigos all day. Every teacher is amazing, and the entire environment is one filled with love, learning, and joy. This school has exceeded every expectation and then some--I'm so grateful we found it.

I've worked at Jardin for three years and it had been an amazing experience. It has been a great…read moreopportunity for me to learn new things, with the goal of one day becoming a teacher. Jardin has motivated me to pursue my Child Development Associates degree so that I can become an amazing teacher for all children. The staff at Jardin are truly wonderful and genuine, and they make me feel very comfortable. We have great conversations about everything and anything. The company itself is very professional, proving the structure and organization that parents look for when choosing a place to care for their babies.

We had really high hopes for Jardin after moving to the city, and the promise of learning Spanish…read morewas enticing, but in the end we left after a month and a half of care. The communication to parents was really, really poor. Often the teacher handing our kids back to us didn't speak English, so we didn't have a great idea of how the kids were doing, how their days were, etc. And the communication through the app, when present, was often inaccurate. The teachers and staff seemed nice, but they missed stuff that happened under their care, and they would check the security footage only after we asked about scratches the kids came home with. Your kids would probably be safe there, but for how much they charge, you could do a lot better than Jardin.