What a wonderful language school. I'm taking my second class this winter. This place is so cute! (And many of my classmates work for a living and fit the class into their lunch breaks, just fine!) The buddy system is also great. This is not an easy class, but it has really improved my confidence in speaking, helping me be less self conscious. I have a degree in teaching and Amanda's style works well for me as a kinesthetic learner -- lots of whole body motions, songs, and exaggerated expressions to help the language "stick". The online resources are also very helpful -- to match a variety of learning styles. This class is a very good value and pace. It is a commitment, but learning a language requires daily practice. I've had a lot of fun and can see my progress week to week. I've also enjoyed getting to know my classmates. I wear a mask in class, but not everyone does. There are online options for some levels, too. read more

I found these classes useful for refreshing and expanding my little knowledge from a long time ago. The generally unstructured conversation in class and between classes with our assigned buddies was very helpful compared to learning, say, conjugations by rote. Like any class, the more you put in the more you get out. I needed more practice with verb tenses than was officially allotted, even with the homework, but various online resources were suggested for that. All-in-all, a pleasant way to learn. read more

If you are thinking of learning a little spanish, traveling to a hispanic country, already know a little from high school but aren't able to use it to have a comfortable conversation- definitely sign up for one of the spanish lessons at Vamanos! The teaching style and quality is far superior than any you will find at community college or other places where a lot of learning relies on memory. The experience is extremely immersive with lots of speaking practice to ensure each student gets comfortable, friendly and forgiving environment where everyone is there to learn. This was important to me as an introvert and not having learned spanish in school. You do role play, ask each other and Amanda questions , go over the material, practice it and get to work with each person in the class. A group of us meet in chocolati each week to practice spanish. Its totally optional with no teacher and we go to dinner too - you make fast friends in this class. Amanda who teaches spanish 101 is a treat! She brings a load of positive energy to the class. The small class size ensures you get a chance to ask questions, practice and everyone knows your name. The folks in the class range between young to old, all eager to learn a new language for travel or just for fun. You will fit right in. Going to spanish class is the highlight of my week and i was able to fit this in despite a grueling work schedule. You can too! Pros: - Unique immersive experience that ensures you can speak spanish not just memorize a few phrases - small class sizes - copyrighted material they have developed which is easy to learn and doesn't overload you with self study or memorization. It never feels overwhelming. - you make good friends at class and at the optional practice study group. - relaxed environment with snacks - Amanda is a fantastic teacher. I wish we could clone her for all our schools! Cons- -Take 5 mins to find parking - you might think you are moving slowly as you arent given 50 words per class to memorize. This can be alarming if you are planning a crash course to travel. However, a fellow student counted the number of new words in each class that we were organically using despite it not being in our sheet and it was over 50! As all the conversations are in spanish and you learn by context, repetition and questions/ look up- it really sticks! Listing it here as it can come across as moving slower but you aren't actually slower than another class and will be retaining a lot more with ability to use the words in more sentences. - Hard to get into span 101. This is required unless you do a verbal phone test for placement into one of the other classes. I didnt feel confident about being able to go into a higher class( and i was right!)- so i was waiting each quarter for span101 to be offered. During the year there are only a few sessions and summer tends to have more. Sign up for their email list to get notified of when classes get posted as they fill up quick. I waited 6 months to get into mine by signing up the very next day after the email. Check the website often as new classes get posted. Highly recommend using Vamanos for your spanish learning needs! I am finishing span 101 and already registered for span102. read more

Might be better suited who are retired or don't work for a living? Doesn't appear to be an inclusive environment. As a working professional, I go on international work trips. I had signed up for the Intermediate class and was so excited for the class. Amanda automatically withdrew me from the class three weeks before the start of the class because I was in the Middle East and couldn't complete an "over-the-phone" evaluation. I indicated I would be back in town the following week and could do the eval, but instead she went ahead and withdrew me from the class. Learning a language is about opening yourself up and immersing yourself in the language and culture. Amanda's robotic-ness and coldness really turned me off. read more

I just finished my second term at Vamonos Spanish Center, and I can't recommend it enough! The owner and teacher, Amanda, makes learning fun by using games, music, and movement to enhance the learning process. The only class that worked for my schedule was on Friday nights, but even after a long work week, I looked forward to Spanish class. Highly recommended! read more

This school has so much potential, but ultimately so disappointing! I tried classes with Amanda, and the course materials are not laid out in a user-friendly way. There were multiple lists of assignments on different platforms, not coordinated with each other, many of the resources she used in class were not included, and the textbook (not really a textbook, just a file) was formatted weirdly, so you could hardly read it, even if you printed it out. Amanda was not helpful when we mentioned this, and I had to practically beg, asking multiple times to get all of the materials referenced in class, instead of them just being provided in the beginning. She also refused to print materials for another student with a vision disability. It doesn't seem that hard to make material accessible to students and offer one concise list of assignments. Just a little more user-friendly thinking would go a long way. Instead it's a random mish-mash. My son wanted to take a class there now that the virus panic is over, but apparently Amanda is forcing students to cover their faces, or be excluded, and also expecting them to learn without seeing the teacher's face. We don't know why she would do this after the mandates have all ended, but no one learns well in an atmosphere of fear, where their comfort level is not respected. I was also bullied by an older black woman student after my second class, who announced to everyone she didn't think students with experience in other programs should be in the classes, only students who had solely studied under Amanda, and ignored me every time I tried to talk to her casually, as though I were beneath her. I was so shocked by it, I didn't mention it to Vamonos staff, but beware, not all of the students know basic human decency. read more

I've been attending classes with Amanda now for 3 quarters and have loved every minute! This is such a good fit for my busy lifestyle. I love meeting other adults who speak Spanish at my level, being able to practice and brushing up my rusty skills. I can't wait for this quarter to start! read more

OMG, Amanda Reichert and Vamanos Spanish is so great I can't recommend it more highly!! Amanda is a fantastic teacher for both children and adults...and if you get a chance to travel with her, Do It! read more

I love Vamanos Spanish Center and Amanda's unique approach to teaching Spanish! Instead of having us write out verb charts and each and every conjugation, Amanda crafts little lessons for each class that include helpful vocab and grammar, such as animals/the zoo, or traveling in an airport, to give a couple of examples. We tend to review and build on things we learn, and spend a lot of time practicing (which I would never do on my own tbh), so it's not like we are rushing through and not applying what we're learning. I DEFINITELY recommend taking classes from Amanda!!! read more

I registered and paid for the coming 2018 beginner's class. In order to get to know the teacher Amanda better I also paid for her Spanish crash class on Dec. 2. This class turned out was not for beginners (the description of the class did not indicate the pre-requisition.). I was overwhelmed and worried about the coming class I have registered. After the class I talked to her about my preferred learning style of the way child learns. She said her classes would be just like the one I attended using the traditional way of learning a language: grammar and memorization. I said I was willing to give it a try and I like the aspect of her teaching using immersion. A couple of days later on Dec. 4 I got an email from her that she decided she does not want me to be her student because she thinks her style does not match mine without further discussion with me. It is an unexpected reaction from her based on a casual 2-minutes conversation without even giving it a try considering I have already paid for her class and told her I was willing to give it a try. I had never met her before this crash class and had no like/dislike of her personally. I think ultimately it is up to a student to decide if he/she is benefiting from a class, not a teacher. Be aware when you sign up for her class that you are not guaranteed to a spot in the class. She is picky about student and will cancel you anytime based not on the best interest of the student but her personal feelings, especially if you question her teaching method. read more

This is a perfect way to learn Spanish as a busy professional. The class is fun and very interactive with a lot of time to practice new vocabulary through conversations and playing games with other class members. read more

I was taking beginner Spanish lessons at a Community College and while the classes were great I longed for more conversation. Of course I wanted grammar however in a less formal classroom kind of way. And then a friend told me about Vamonos Spanish Center. Amanda, the owner and teacher at Vamonos, requires that you take an "entry" test. She does this so that you are set up for success and placed in the right level. I have completed 103 and 201. I am with the same people every class. We have SO much fun. The classes are small - maximum 12 people. We practice at tables of 4. We move around the room so as to not only work with our "tried and true". We make mistakes, we correct each other - we laugh! Amanda makes learning Spanish FUN. My Spanish has improved and continues to do so. There is a group of us, from all different levels, that meet on Wednesday nights at the Sea Monster (a bar underneath her school to practice talking. I can say enough good about Amanda and her method of teaching. Get ready to learn riddles, sing songs, act out buying clothing, etc. Take virtual trips to other Spanish speaking countries and start to understand the unique differences in the Spanish language. If you want to have fun, learn to speak Spanish (and understand the grammar), meet new people, as well as Lola, give Vamonos a try. You won't regret it and you won't leave! read more

My son and I just had our first tutoring session with Amanda and we are both very pleased. Amanda had a nice little lesson plan that got us talking and my son conversing in Spanish which is something he hadn't been really interested in doing until this tutoring session with Amanda. Looking forward to more sessions and more conversations in Spanish. read more

Vámonos offers practical lessons with a cultural context, and I highly recommend it. The focus is on speaking and communicating in Spanish. We take "virtual tours" through Spanish-speaking countries and learn their customs while absorbing grammar and vocabulary in a relaxed, fun and interactive environment. Classes are kept small, and games make it feel like a language-learning party. Amanda is an energetic, enthusiastic teacher who really cares about her students. A very special bonus is the opportunity to go on real-world travel tours led by Amanda, such as our 10-day group trip to Cuba in 2016, a fun and memorable experience. read more

I wrote to this organization simply saying that I was in the market for spanish lessons, was unable to make classes at the time they offered them, and asked if they have a recommendation for another language center north of wallingford. I did not receive a reply, but am now unwillingly on their marketing email distribution list. I did write them back a message and asked to be removed since I simply asked a question and did not consent to being on their email marketing list. Again no reply. This poor business practice is not a good sign. read more

As an adult learning Spanish, I looked for a class that was at a convenient time but that also was fun to attend. Amanda is one of the very best teachers I have ever met. Her creativity and energy level keep us engaged for every meeting. She even has inspired me to do homework. For adults, she believes in wine is a lubricant for conversation. I know that my Spanish has improved since I've been enrolled. I highly recommend Vámonos to anyone looking for a terrific language learning experience. read more

Amanda is possibly the best foreign language teacher on the planet! After trying French in high school and Spanish in college (and doing horrible in both) my desire to learn another language pushed me to try again. I cannot tell you how glad I am that I ended up at Vamonos! Classes at Vamonos are kept small and that makes it an intimate environment where you quickly (with the help of vino!) lose your inhibitions about screwing up and just start singing along. The classes are "immersion" style as if you have been plopped down in the middle of Mexico City without an English speaker to be found. By actively pointing out things (in the very well set up classroom) to identify them, engaging your brain in multiple ways with varying activities and simply speaking Spanish, Amanda somehow makes it possible to not speak a word of English and yet you still understand almost everything that happens starting the first day! If there is a better way to teach Spanish, I don't know what it is. If you have any interest in learning Spanish, this is THE place to do it. read more