I have been studying with Edwin for about a year now, and the improvement I feel in my spanish has…read morebeen incredible. His patience, attention and passion for language learning/teaching is unparalleled. He customizes classes best on what your learning goals are, your level, and what material you want to cover. I have and will continue to recommend Edwin to anyone looking to improve their Spanish skill, Edwin is a fantastic teacher. Edwin, gracias por todo lo que me enseñas!!

Edwin is AWESOME, you will LEARN A TON, and you will have a thoughtful, patient, and fun approach…read moreto learning Spanish. I have always wanted to learn Spanish, I live in Los Angeles, and my girlfriend's family is Central American so I thought it would be really cool to learn how to communicate in another language. I signed up for SMC Spanish courses which was a disaster (story for a different day) and found Edwin online. After taking one of his courses, I was hooked -- he takes time to understand what your goals are and will tailor his classes based on the group's goals. He's always willing to work with you inside and outside of class, and it felt like I had a friend who cared about teaching me Spanish. After about 8 months, my girlfriend and her family noticed my improvement, and I could tell I had gotten a lot better at speaking. I have had so much fun improving and getting better, and I would highly, highly recommend Edwin and the Learning Language Spanish School to anyone wanting to learn Spanish. Edwin: you ROCK!

I joined this class with absolutely zero stand-up experience, and it exceeded all my expectations…read more Gerry and Heather are phenomenal instructors, and their system truly works. They create a fun, encouraging, and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable taking risks and finding their voice. By the end of the class, I had a set I was proud of and the confidence to get on stage and perform it. The group itself was incredibly supportive, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

I signed up for this class having years of stand up sketch and improv experience, but never taken a…read moreclass for stand up comedy. I spent a long time skeptical about taking a course and worrying it would lead to generic comedy or hack style. But I've known countless alumni of the class over the years and always wondered what was so special about it because they'd given me glowing reviews. This year I found myself wanting to sharpen tools in joke writing and re-invigorate my perspective on stand up altogether. The class achieved exactly that - plus introduced me to a really great community of people who are funny, smart, and kind. Gerry cultivates an environment that is rare in stand up comedy culture in that it goes against the negative cliches of being brash, cutting, competitive and toxic. The instructors are very generous with giving guidance in and outside of class. Besides feeling inspired personally, I saw classmates flourish and felt a tidal wave of love and appreciation coming out of class. Not to mention a brand new tight 5+ minutes to take around. I think it's a very smart move to start your stand up journey here, and if you're already involved but looking for a huge breathe of fresh air, it's here too.

Great community club. I thought Toastmaster would be old school, but this group is very dynamic…read more Everyone is welcome to come for free as many times as you want and it's less than 2 coffees at Starbucks to join. It's a good safe way to learn new skills and practice speaking.

I have been attending Club 21 Toastmasters' meetings for over a year now, and I can honestly say…read morethat the decision to join has been one of the greatest investments I've ever made in myself. Having just recently completed a master's degree at UCLA, I continually found myself thinking that the growth I've achieved from my 2 hour-per-week commitment to my club far exceeded my feelings of accomplishment at the more formal institution of learning. I first showed up at Club 21 because I suffer from what sometimes feels like a crippling fear of speaking. Prior to joining Club 21, I HATED public speaking, and my feelings of anxiety extended to other forms of formal speaking as well- such as conducting myself in interviews and meetings. While I can't say that my speaking-phobia has disappeared, my feelings at the lectern have become more nuanced; rather than experiencing pure terror, I now feel a mix of fear and sheer exhilaration at the opportunity to address a room of attentive listeners. It is such an incredible feeling- I often drive away from meetings feeling more confident and empowered than I ever had before. The club members are quite an interesting mix of people. There are folks of all ages and from many walks of life, but they all share one common characteristic- everyone is incredibly supportive. If you decide to attend a meeting, your hands will get a workout; we do a hell of a lot of clapping. Not only that, but the Toastmasters program offers countless opportunities for evaluation and feedback. After presenting a speech, you will receive a formal spoken evaluation, a written evaluation, and feedback cards from most members of the club... not to mention a lot of pats on the back. I really can't emphasize enough how wonderful this club is. I think the Toastmasters program in general is pretty fantastic, but I like to think that our club is exceptionally special, as well. But the only way for you to discover that is to come check it out for yourself. So please do: Tuesdays at 7PM at Delores Bakery and Cafe in West LA/Santa Monica. I look forward to seeing you there!

Great vibe and people. I have been in this club since 2012. The fee is just $60 for 6 months with…read moreno local club fees. Good for honing and keeping up my public speaking skills. The theme for each meeting is interesting and always inspire great discussion on the subject. Highly recommend visiting and trying out this club!

Great place to develop your confidence in public speaking and leadership skills. I am eager to…read morelearn how to improve my skills. Come visit on any Thursday evening at 7:30 pm. Inside Share Culver City, also a great place for those seeking any kind of self help group.

I've visited quite a few Toastmasters clubs, and I would say that this club is by far the best!…read moreThis club has a mix of seasoned speakers and newbies, and it's a great community that's welcoming to everyone! The meetings have transitioned to ZOOM, so you can continue to hone your public speaking skills while meeting supportive people. It's a great physically-distant, social-activity! The meetings take place on Wednesdays at 7:15pm... Guests are welcome to join, observe and/or participate for no cost at all. Send an inquiry for the zoom link. info@westsidetoastmasters.com Hope to see you there!

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! I was so tentative about joining…read morea drop in improv class where there are people with different experience levels. I was worried that other experienced improvisers might think I'm wasting their time etc. I found Matt's classes on yelp, looked at his website and scheduled a quick call with him the next day. I mentioned my concerns regarding advanced students and what Matt told me always stuck with me -- "experienced improvisers will never judge you but will support you in every way possible because if they've done this long enough they know that improv is all about making your partner look good and supporting them" I loved the first class where he explained the concept of "yes, and" and I've never looked back! Improv is so Much fun! I'm so glad I found my thing. Matt creates a safe and fun environment where you can be funny and silly. There are a lot of students who come in for their social anxiety. I don't have social anxiety but I can be shy sometimes. Improv teaches you to think on your feet and I know it has helped me in ways I can't imagine. I've been a student for almost 4-5 months now and just did a show with the troop. So fun!

I started going to Matt's classes last year at the West LA Community College. It was gift to myself…read moreon my birthday so I could get over my social anxiety. I was not expecting a lot because I've tried so many things (public speaking classes, toastmasters), but I enjoyed it so much that I decided I just had to explore improv further, and I started attending Electric Improv on Saturdays. While dealing with my anxiety is a daily process, I have to say that when I enjoy doing something I feel like doing more of it. And to top it off, Matt provides a very supportive environment where people like me and others who just want to have fun can come and connect. Since starting these classes, I have been able to perform improv with Matt's group in front of an actual audience. This is definitely something I would recommend over and over again!

I've been working with Angelique for the past year, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. As an…read moreadult learner with a busy schedule, I really appreciate how she tailors each lesson to my pace and goals. Every session is not only productive but also enjoyable. If you're looking to learn French, there's no better resource than working with Angelique. Merci beaucoup!

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Angelique! She is the most patient person I have ever met. I never…read morethought I would be able to learn Spanish, but I am now speaking and reading it as well! Angelique makes every lesson interesting and fun. She has a way of teaching so it does not feel intimidating. She breaks each lesson down until you understand it. I am so happy I am working with her. She is truly unbelievable. If you want to learn a language, she is the absolute best to learn from! Truly one of the best teachers I have ever had.

I highly recommend the Alliance Française de Los Angeles. The teachers are wonderful. My kids had a…read moregreat experience there. On vous remercie infiniment!

Alliance Francaise in conjunction with Bordeaux Sister Cities, Los Angeles celebrated Fête de…read moreBastille with a bang by featuring the wines of Bordeaux, the region that has given birth to super high-end vignerons such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Ausone, and others too numerous to count (about 10,000 in all). Bordeaux produces only about 1.5% of the world production of wine, but its world class wines hold a disproportionate amount of awe & influence, and with it, snob appeal. Apparently, the region of Bordeaux, which comes from "au bord de l'eau (by the water), especially in Saint- Émilion had been exporting wine to Rome since the 4th century. Château Ausone dates back to the days when the Roman Empire held sway. The Greeks may have been the first to introduce the grape to France since they established a colony called Massalia, which is now the present-day Marseille, in about 600 bce. However, there is no documentation that those original grapes planted by the Greeks have survived to this day. (DNA analysis of the grapes in France & in present day Greece may answer that question.) In Bordeaux, Reds predominate with 89% of production while whites comprise 11%. Merlot makes up about 66%, Cabernet Sauvignon a bit less than 33%, the rest is Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carménère, & Malbec. White varietals are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, & a touch of Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Sauvignon Gris, Colombard. The large water way called the Gironde & its two tributaries, the Dordogne & Garonne, is the major dividing line so that there is a right & left bank. The right bank's soil has more clay-rich, relatively cooler soil temperature, water-retaining soil which is preferred by the early ripening Merlot. The left bank's soil is gravelly & stony so that the sun heats up the soil which is beloved by heat-loving Cabernet Sauvignon. The center piece in the lounge area was a long table whose center was decorated with the French Tri- Colors & deep red roses possibly symbolizing the people of France who have given their lives to the French Republique. Surrounding this was a groaning table of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, & crackers which would pair well with the wines to be sampled. Sommelier Laurent P. Michit, who is also a wine merchant, presented a good representative of wines from Bordeaux. 1) Chateau de Fontenille, Entre-Deux-Mers, 2012 is 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Muscadelle, 20% Sémillon. Sweet musky bouquet with a touch of citrus & grassy tones. Smooth & astringent yet slightly rough due to higher acid. 2) Chateau Macquin, Saint-George-Saint Émilion, 2011 is probably primarily Merlot with Cabernet Franc. 3) Chateau Tenein, Bordeaux Superior, 2010 is 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc. 4) Chateau Patache d'Aux, Medoc, 2010 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot . This was my favorite drink-right-now wine. Very smooth, nice balance of soft tannins & acid with a touch of cherry & light blue berries that has the right sugar content to make it great to drink just by itself. I guess this wine appeals to my plebeian nature since it is listed as Cru Bourgeois. 5) Chateau de la Cour, Saint-Émilion 2010, Grand Cru is 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine probably would mellow out in about 10 years. The tannins & acids are relatively strong so that the wine can rest for a long time to mellow out the tannins & acids although I have had other Grand Crus that were far harsher. Good bottle to buy for those who believe that all good things come to those who wait. The guests at the Fête de Bastille were a mixture of Francophone & Anglophone speakers which made for a nice mix. The cultural & educational awareness was high unlike some soirées where we Americans predominate. There was little talk about La Revolution & about Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, and the talk of wine predominated. I would guess that Vins = La Vie, at least to the French. Vive la France!!!