We have been coming to Language beans for Mandarin since our son was 2. The teachers have all been…read moreamazing, which is the reason our son is still taking classes here. Rachel, the current teacher, has been warm and encouraging and has been able to get our son to start conversing in Mandarin at class, which is a big step forward. Mimi, one of the founders is always pleasant and accommodating as much as possible if we miss a class. The kids in the class get along well and have fun there, which is set up by both the teachers and staff. If our son didn't like coming here, we would have picked a different place a long time ago but he enjoys it and so do we!

I first learned about Language Beans when a parent in my daughter's preschool arranged to have them…read morecome in to do lessons once a week (we are native English speakers). I wanted my child to have exposure to a second language, but I had planned to limit that to Spanish (which I speak a bit and which she got in little bits of in her PreK). She LOVED the Mandarin classes, though -- and when I'd ask her for any Spanish (even basics like hello) she would look at me blankly, but she would sing entire songs in Mandarin. Cut to a year later, and in the fall of her Kindergarten year there was a Spanish after school program associated with her school. I signed her up there (partly for ease/cost, and partly bc I figured we'd switch officially). But again -- blank stares when I'd ask how the class went. She'd bring home little worksheets etc. but it really seemed like the class was kind of dull and not engaging. And she kept asking me to "go back to Mandarin." So for the second semester we enrolled her in the LB class and by luck the same teacher that had taught her preK (Rachel) was teaching the time we wanted. Yet again: SHE LOVES IT. Example: today she spontaneously says from the back of the car: "yi plus er equals san." (1+2=3). She also has used a mandarin word for something (like "snake") at random, and because I speak zero mandarin I'll say "what??" and she'll say "it's Mandarin, mommy!" I also like that the teachers communicate the curriculum really well, and provide helpful material for parents like us who don't speak the language at all. My daughter's also comes home with work that shows how engaged she is; including beautiful written characters that the teacher has meticulously given feedback on. It's clear that she's learning a lot, and enjoying it, which is to me the most you can ask for! So, we're loving it. Highly recommended!

We loved the Vets Kids program as an Imagine Early Learning Center, and our little one came here…read morefrom five months to almost three years of age. We loved the program. The leadership and staff are incredible and caring, and communication was excellent. The programming is engaging and enriching (including nature walks, events with the NYC Parks Department, yoga, music, puppetry, soccer, and more), and we were thrilled to see our kiddo flourish and grow. The infant classroom is called Tadpoles, the 1-2YO toddler class is called Turtles, the 2-3YO class is called Dolphins, and the 3-4YO classroom is the Goldfish class. We had to leave the program because we were moving away but miss and love the teachers and administration.

Our daughter attended Seedlings starting in 2021, right after the Covid-19 pandemic. We always felt…read morelike Tracy (Director) and the entire teaching staff were more like extended family members. We always felt assured that their top priority was the health, safety, and well-being of all of their students, and they spent a lot of time helping with the kids' social development, which was so incredibly important, especially after lengths of social isolation during the pandemic. We loved the community feeling of Seedlings, and to this day (our daughter is now 7), some of our closest friends are parents of our daughter's Seedlings classmates - we still keep in touch with some who have moved back to the UK and Europe! The fact that Seedlings prioritizes age-appropriate learning and understands the importance of play in terms of learning and development was key to us. Each day was filled with reading, art, music, play, science/nature, and typically a new experience or activity. The outdoor space was such a nice addition to the kids' experience, and knowing they had time to play and learn outdoors each day (weather permitting) was so important. Our daughter grew in leaps and bounds during her time at Seedlings, and was well-prepared to enter Kindergarten. We really appreciated the small class sizes, and the personalized attention Tracy and the rest of the staff gives to each and every child. To this day, our 7-year-old comes back to "read aloud" to the current Seedlings cohort from time to time, and is always welcomed with open arms by all. Tracy and the staff are invested in her growth, even now, years later, and have always supported her journey of overcoming her initial social anxiety post-pandemic and becoming more independent and confident. Once you become a part of the Seedlings family, you are always welcomed and celebrated, which is an incredible gift for both the Seedlings student and the entire family - especially in today's busy times. I can honestly say that we are so grateful we chose Seedlings for preschool, which is such a critical time in every child's development, and we'd highly recommend it to other families looking for the right fit for their child/children.

With three kids and having lived in the neighbourhood for ~8 years, we have experienced a few…read moredifferent Brooklyn camps, preschools, and schools. Seedlings is a favorite. It stands out as a caring environment where a great team partners with each family to support their child/children's needs. When we learned our son would be becoming a big brother, we were pleased he'd be at Seedlings for that big change in his life. The team didn't disappoint. We had a great experience with Seedlings.

My kids look forward to their classes every week. They love learning learning new tricks to help…read moresolve problems. My daughter says it's a lot of fun especially the word problems. My son loves the teaching method and being challenged.

We have been using this service for a few months and have seen class test results go from 34% to…read more76%!! All the staff are magnificent they are engaging, supportive and just make the experience positive every time. My daughter always looks forward to going.

I have been taking Spanish classes at the Bryant Park location with instructor Fernando Martinez…read moresince April of this year and I have learned so much. I started with Total Beginner and have moved up a level every 8 weeks. I am certain that within the next 2 years or even less, I will be fully fluent in Spanish! Fernando is a great instructor and his classes are very interactive and fun!

Claudio was great for the Italian crash course! I learned a lot, he was kind and supportive, and I…read morewould absolutely take another class with him. Highly recommend!

Highly recommended for Yoko's Daycare! Yoko is super communicative and so understanding of our…read morepersonal circumstances. The caretakers are also the sweetest people and they are so gentle with the little humans. Every other day, my daughter brings home the cutest artwork. Nao and Keiko senseis are superheroes in my eyes - 100%. This daycare also has an amazing backyard. Though Spring - Fall, the kids are allowed to go out to run their energy off and to get fresh air. I am so happy I had enrolled my daughter here!!

Our daughter thrived at Yoko's daycare. Our daughter started when she was 6 months old until she…read morewas 14 months. The teachers were all outstanding and took excellent care of her. Our daughter was in the NICU after she was born and has always struggled with weight gain and her teachers did such a great job making sure she ate well and slept well. We also loved that the children had so much fun, playing with instruments, going outside in the warmer days, and interacting with one another. We loved that the teachers speak to the children in Japanese. We had to leave the daycare because we moved to North Brooklyn, otherwise would stay as long as possible. We highly recommend Yoko's daycare!

Thank every god in every heaven for Dina Shen!! I found Dina's Fast Learning Chinese from Yelp and…read morewas skeptical that the glowing reviews were for real, but now I'm joining the ranks firsthand!! I'm "good with languages" but had zero experience with Mandarin other than a general fascination, and admit to being a little daunted by what I perceived as an almost impossible task: learning Mandarin without any prior experience or opportunity for immersion. Dina takes this daunting situation and makes it approachable, understandable and addictive!! She is such a kind and patient teacher. She's incredibly nurturing and supportive, but doesn't just nod and smile and tell you that you're doing great when you're not -- she takes the time and care to gently correct my pronunciation to make sure that I'm mastering the Mandarin tones. As her student, I feel that she genuinely cares about my progress and is personally invested in it. Dina's Level 1 course is all about giving us a foundation to understand how the mechanics of how Mandarin works rather than just having us memorize rote phrases or characters. She teaches us grammatical patterns and explains the nuances of how Mandarin differs from English in a way that turns those differences into assets to learn the new language rather than impediments to it. I've just completed her Level 1 one-on-one tutoring and will definitely be continuing on to Level 2. I work nearby in the area and take my sessions during my lunch break -- I work in a very stressful job and half of the time when I'm heading to my session, I'm anxious about some crazy thing at work and tired, but EVERY TIME, I leave feeling rejuvenated and inspired and excited to continue learning Mandarin. And now, thanks to Dina, I have confidence that I have a decent beginner's foundation in speaking, reading and writing Mandarin and have a brilliant, kind teacher who can help turn that foundation into something even stronger. If you want to learn Mandarin and live near NYC, I can't recommend Dina enough!!

I decided to learn Chinese in preparation for a trip to China for the World Expo, but mostly…read morebecause I'm interested in being able to better understand and work with the most important growth economy in the world. Before the class, everyone I know told me how Mandarin is SOOoOoOOOoo hard and I TOOOOoooOootally shouldn't bother. Whatever, doodz! I, for one, welcome our new ant overlords. Dina Shen is the instructor and progenitor of Fast Learning Chinese, and I love her like I loved my first grade teacher. She's so smart! And pretty! She's one of those rare teachers who clearly LOVES teaching, and she's incredibly professional. But, as a professional, she makes her class--with her own curriculum and CD--fun, clear, engaging, and (like it says on the box) very very fast. You won't have time to doodle in her class. Not only that, but Dina encourages you to come to the first class before you pay so you can decide for yourself whether or not you think you can learn from her. A month in, and I haven't noticed any dropouts (and my friends told me horror stories about packed college Chinese classes with four lonely students left by the time midterms rolled around). There's no machismo to the course. The vibe is welcoming and inclusive. And if you have trouble and need to repeat the course, her repeat fee is something like half the original cost, which I think shows genuine generosity and dedication. She also holds the same class on different days of the week, so if you have to miss class one week, you can make it up on another day. A huge, huge plus. I leave every class inspired and excited to be learning Chinese, and I'm proud to be learning from such a wonderful teacher. I can already show off to my Chinese clients, and while I know I've got a long way to go, it tells me a lot about Dina's class that after a month they already understand me. That's a big deal with a tonal language! I plan to go on to Level II after this one, which was not in my original plan... It's just that much fun. I cannot recommend Fast Learning Chinese highly enough. Go learn something from Dina.

Dedicated teachers and administration. Overall we have been happy with our experience and would…read morehighly recommend the school to other families.

I can say without hesitation that this pre-school is one of the better options in the neighborhood…read more All the kids get so much care, attention and dedication. My son thrived in this wonderful community. The teachers have a lot of experience, the admin is extremely efficient and organized. Lots of cultural activities and extra-curricular options. We tried another school for summer camp and can truly say JCC is great in comparison!