The philosophy is to make language learning fun, through songs, pleasantries, snacks, and fun. After one semester, however, I have come to see it as glorified babysitting, 2 hours for me to have a browse in the Upper East Side shops. Mandarin Chinese is supposed to be hard, not fun. Many key concepts are painful to grasp. Yes there is a need for rote memorization. This class, I felt, obfuscated the truth about how Chinese is truly a difficult language. My seven year old picked up some words for colors and fruits in a beginning class filled with a four year old and a nine year old, none of them native speakers. However, no pain, no gain. They felt no pain, but they also did not learn much of value. SInging is singing. Singing may lead to some learning, but there is a need to sit down and write some characters out. I feel that did not happen. $800 for a semester. The teacher was a very nice person, no doubt. However, I think this program just gives an illusion that you are doing something for your child. read more

I feel I must chime in here. Although everyone's experience will be different based on different teachers, as well as different expectations, I don't agree with the one-star reviews. My 15-month-old daughter and I attend the mommy & me French class on Lexington & 66th, and I can't say enough wonderful things about the program. My daughter's teacher, Jennifer, is a French native who is charming, charismatic, energetic, and patient with all of the young children. I find myself also having fun and expanding my French tongue. From the moment we walk in the door to the moment we leave, everyone is friendly and warm towards my daughter and myself. The best part is that in a very short time, she is picking up the language. They must be doing something right!! read more

About 6 months ago, my wife and 5 year old son Bobby planned a summer trip to New York City to visit relatives. We have been planning for him to start learning French at some point in his life so after reading reviews of the best French Summer Camps in NYC, we decided to enroll him at the Language Workshop for Children. Two months before he went to NYC, we bought the two Professor Toto CD discs including the one with French songs. He really liked both discs and it was a joy to see him happily singing along and learning French words. He really liked French Camp at LWFC and the incredible program Mr. Thibaut has developed. He quickly learned a lot of French and always came home with a smile on his face happily repeating new French words that he learned. We also really liked the projects that he came home with. The number of hours were just right (3 hours/day) for his age. We talked with other parents that had their kids in other French schools and their kids had fun, but did not learn as much French as Bobby learned at LWFC. We recently enrolled him with a French teacher here in Orlando and she was amazed at how much he learned in such a short period of time. Mr. Thibaut really has developed a great technique. I give this school 6 stars out of 5 with the extra star going to Marina, the French administrative assistant who really likes children and likes to practice French with the kids before class. read more

Great experience! I am a caregiver who brought a little girl to one of their Tots classes and she absolutely loved it! She has learned so much chinese with them. Everyone was very nice, energetic, fun and caring! She loves to listen to her class CD at home. She is looking forward to her next class! read more

Both my tots are in the Saturday class with Marie Veronique in the Manhattan location and we love every minute of the class. My children are singing and speaking French more from this class then the one from the French Institute Alliance Francaise. We are glad we signed up for the whole school year. read more

I enrolled my 14 month old in the 45 minute Italian class at the Manhasset location, advertised for 1 and 2 year olds. Parents stay for the class, but the first session was an absolute disaster. There were not enough chairs for adults, we were crammed in a corner, and the chairs for children were absolutely age inappropriate. I still would like to know what 1 year old will sit in a chair for 45 minutes while a teacher lectures--mine certainly didn't. The teacher, though nice and a native speaker, had great difficulty engaging *some* of the students, including mine. There were toys and bookshelves all around that my son kept wanting to explore as is normal for a baby his age--he was also completely bored with the class which made the experience difficult for everyone. When he started crying, I left so as to not ruin the experience for others (if it wasn't already). The space was so tight I was literally stepping over children. Let me just say that my son is actually pretty laid-back, in addition to being on-target for milestones. We take a music class and mommy & me yoga with no problems--he enjoys the classes and I love taking him--but this class is just totally inappropriate for babies at his age and developmental level. Perhaps your baby will do better, particularly if he/she is ahead of the curve or at the older end of the age spectrum, but I HIGHLY suggest you take a free class first to make sure. Their cancellation policy is absurd, and led to a long fight over the phone with their business manager Gayle. I first insisted on a cash refund, but when I finally agreed to take a credit for the classes to retake them at a later date, I was told that I would only be given the dollar amount I had spent--NOT the number of classes I purchased (they were running a special.) I about lost it since I felt that I should be entitled to a full refund considering the class was terrible and not at all as advertised. The idea that I'd have to throw more money at this ridiculous place to retake the class was crazy. Anyway, I was given a good scolding (and some implied remarks that there was something wrong with my son) but they eventually gave me a full refund. As an aside, we have learned wayyy more Italian from watching Little Pim videos in 15 minute increments! read more

Highly recommended, My son 4 years old having great time , and learning lot in French .the teachers are excellent.

Julie, my daughter's instructor for the Spanish preschool class at the Manhattan location, seems to be a caring and nurturing teacher that has fostered my daughter's interest in the Spanish language and has kept her motivated and looking forward to her lessons. read more

I was so disappointed in this place. The classes were bad and the office was so unhelpful. They play all sorts of games with the billing. Don't trust them. read more

I stopped going to this school a few years ago once I realized how teachers and staff were treated by the owner. Francois Thibault takes advantage of his staff and mistreats them to no end. What reputable school who truly cares about its students, forbids its teachers to talk to parents? I could not believe it when I was told by Francois Thibault that I was not allowed to talk to my daughter's teacher and that I had to go to him with any questions. I asked him if he could point out who my daughter was since we'd been going to his school for 2 years and he couldn't respond. I was concerned about how my daughter would do in an interview for a reputable French school in manhattan and needed the teacher's advice. All schools thrive on parent teacher relationships. It seems as if he has something to hide. He is unpleasant, his methodology is repetitive and my daughter stopped progressing after a year in the program. The Teachers are the ones who ultimately build a reputation for the school and since Francois Thibault feels threatened by good teachers, he mistreats them. You would think he'd do his utmost to keep his best team... I am very disappointed but at the same time, I know that this school is running out of fuel. read more

While I wasn't going to review this school, I feel compelled to now!!! My son just completed his first semester at the Madison, NJ location. He kept telling me he didn't like the class and never wanted to go. He NEVER says that with his other preschool or YMCA classes. (Which, by the way are A LOT less expensive!) I pre-paid for the whole year. I did get a refund for upcoming semesters, but not the current one. Fine, so I ask if I can stay with him since he's not comfortable/happy/whatever. The nice lady on the phone tells me it's fine, it's my child, and whatever to make him happy/comfortable. I was only in 2 classes! He only attended about 50% of the classes, but since they wouldn't give me a refund, I went to the last 2 classes. The first time I only stayed an hour. There was a substitute, but he seemed fine, even though the class was a bit chaotic, and I left him for the rest of the class. I returned to pick him up to find him totally soaking wet! The class aide kept saying quite loudly and frantically, "He didn't ask to go, he didn't ask to go!" I told her it was fine and took him out and changed him. My son said he did ask to go, but no one heard him. If you are in the classroom, you will know why! Kid's are bored, being told no, sit still, etc. many, many, many times in that 21/2 hours! The last class I stayed the whole time, the regular teacher, Ms. Carolina was back, and apparently didn't like the fact that I stayed the whole time. How do I know? I got a call today and the gentlemen said teachers and parents had been calling and complaining that I SAT in on the class!!!! Really? Because I stayed with my son!?? Maybe they should stay a little while with their child and they will want a refund and not want their child to go either!!! I feel bad that I didn't sit in on a trial class first! MY MISTAKE!! This is very expensive! You would be better off hiring a tutor to come to your home. You could still run a errand or two, and your child wouldn't be stuck in a small, hot, sweaty room, AND it would be cheaper!!! My son learned more Spanish from me, Diego & Dora! NOT kidding! Sit in on a class before you buy!!!!!!! The kids are expected to sit for long periods of time with nothing to do, but watch each child pick an animal, say a phrase, choose an expression. It's hard for little ones to sit still for 20 minutes! They all take off shoes, shirts, etc. because it's soooooo hot in there! Parents, do your kids a favor and dress them like it's summer for that class! Better yet, listen to them and don't stick them in there. If your kid is crying for 20 minutes that they want their mommy, are they really learning anything? read more