Spanish Language Ctr

11/21/05

Wonderful and Highly Recommended

by mjvernon at Citysearch

I came into the Spanish Language Center with zero talent in languages and no experience with Spanish. After two years of classes, however, I'm very pleased with my progress. The instructors have been native speakers, very professional and able to tailor instruction to my needs.

I would recommend SLC to anyone interested in learning Spanish for the first time, or whether they simply want to improve their skills.

• Pros: Experienced Teachers, Personal Service, Good Value

06/06/08

Spanish Language Center Uses a Technique That Works!

by mleemann at Citysearch

What can I say to convince everyone who is interested in taking Spanish lessons to go to the Spanish Language Center? It's by far the best school I have gone to, and I've tried a number of different schools. The teachers are excellent and know how to teach Spanish where it makes sense. They even have instructors from different dialects that you can request such as teachers from Mexico, Spain, or Peru. They use a logical sequence in their teaching style and put it all together for the student. The material they use goes in order like learning the basics and then covering each tense; in addition, they add in special explanations on what to watch out for when learning Spanish. I have so many light bulbs going off in my head after every class I take there. I have been studying with them for five months now, and I can actually speak in Spanish. They use a truly amazing technique that works! As an adult learner, you need to know how Spanish relates to English. You also need a teacher that is both a native speaker and who knows how to speak English. At one school I tried (Instituto Cervantes), the Spanish instructor did not know one single word of English so if we had a question on how Spanish relates to English, the teacher couldn't tell us. The whole class was very disappointed in that school's teaching style. You won't find this at the Spanish Language Center. They go above and beyond to give you top-notch instruction in an orderly fashion. It's a great school and money well spent if you want to learn Spanish. I'm so happy I found them. You will not have to continue wasting money on programs that don't work like I have done. One last thing, at the Lakeview location, they have a parking lot that is only .25 every half hour...another plus.

• Pros: Parking, small classes, flexible class schedules

05/30/08

A class that produces results!

by Tatar at Citysearch

My sophomore daughter has had a great year taking weekly classes at SLC. Her instructor has done such a phenomenal job helping my daughter feel more confident speaking the language. I signed her up at SLC in hopes to improve her C in Spanish ? this year we think she might get an A! I read one of the reviews saying among other things that the scheduling was disorganized at SLC. I have a completely different experience; the staff is responsive and friendly. I even get a reminder via email before the session is over letting me know how many classes are left. Thank you SLC - keep up the good work!

12/06/07

Not as great as it sounded...

by webmuchacha at Citysearch

I had been taking Spanish classes at another language school in Chicago for some time, but was interested in taking classes twice a week before a trip to South America, so I decided to take a second class at Spanish Language Center. The main reason I choose Spanish Language Center was because of scheduling and location. My one reservation was their claim to be the number one!!! rated school on citysearch for several years, which I knew was not true because other schools had equal or higher ratings. Chalking that up to marketing, I put that reservation aside and signed up for an 8-week class. Overall, I was not overly impressed with my experience at Spanish Language Center. I actually had two different instructors, one was pretty good, but the other was mediocre at best. There really was no set program or curiculm; we just worked rather haphazardly through a few books I had to buy on my own at a bookstore. Also, I was always confused as to how many classes I had paid for, because the number of classes changed based on the number of students, so it was never clear how many were left. Needless to say, I did not sign up for another session at Spanish Language Center, and have continued my once-a-week lessons at another school (where I have had the same instructor on the same day and with the same classmates for over a year and a half!). My experience was just OK, and a few aspects were less-than-OK. In retrospect, I would consider myself mildly miffed at their blatant and prominent false claim about being number 1. Buyer beware?

10/24/07

Great Spanish School - Highly Recommended

by laura4 at Citysearch

I have been taking Spanish classes at the Spanish Language Center for about 6 months and am very happy with my experience. A few friends and I decided to get together to learn Spanish because it is becoming more and more necessary in today' s world. We enrolled together in a group class based on the enthusiastic recommendation of a former co-worker who took classes there for many years before moving to another state. My friends and I have all enjoyed the classes very much and look forward to attending each week. Our teacher is great - very professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions and patiently help us practice. The office is very flexible with scheduling, and we were able to easily find a class that fits our schedules. I really can't think of anything negative to say about the Spanish Language Center. I am learning Spanish and am enjoying being back in a classroom after being out of college for 10 years.

• Pros: Convenient scheduling and location with parking lot; friendly and professional instructors
• Cons: None

10/04/07

The BEST, and I speak from REAL EXPERIENCE

by maihernandez at Citysearch

I have taken classes at SLC and at 2 other similar competitive schools. With this direct comparison, I'll share my knowledge:

I can say there is a world of difference and SLC is the by far the best. The atmosphere is very professional. They are a no-nonsense type of school that focuses on having you learn Spanish fluently. The teachers are fantastic (I had 2) both in private and group classes. Juan Guillermo is the best if you can get him! Everyone is cordial and polite here and really wants you to learn. They don't waste your money like some other "schools" that aren't at all run like a business and aren't professional or even nice to their customers. I took classes at Spanish Horizons and had a horrible experience because that "school" is not professional and not a good environment for learning at all and I felt ripped off. They run that "school" more like a playhouse for women to gossip in and make fun of students, than as a professional language learning facility. It seems to me that if you are going to run any school, or business at all, you need to have business and management experience and to at least try to be professional. At SLC the experience is real and professional with no fake people, nobody "pretending" to be a businessperson, and no games. The atmosphere is that of a professional business that wants you to learn as fast and as best you can. I feel sorry for people that waste their hard earned money on another "school" with dripping water coming down from the ceiling all the time making you feel like you will be sick or catch an airborn disease by just being there.

SLC has even opened up a second location--that's how good they are. Other "schools" cannot have unprofessional standards and inexperienced businesswomen pretending to run a business if they want to charge those high prices--all while they privately make fun and gossip about you behind your back. They should just send their students over to SLC and apologize for taking your money.

• Pros: Professional; Experienced Businessmen; No Gossip; No Drama; Just Real Business
• Cons: Only 2 convenient locations (though 1 more than all the competition, which says a lot)

01/23/07

Excellent classes and instructors; Can't be any better Spanish school in Chicago!

by patrickpatrick at Citysearch

You just can't go wrong here. I had a number of different instructors, including the owner Juan, and all were excellent - not only in terms of advancing my Spanish a tremendous amount more than had been the case at other Spanish schools (which is the most important thing obviously because this is a "results" business), but also doing in a manner that was engaging, receptive to what I wanted, and in which I thoroughly enjoyed. Also, the admin staff is fantastic and will always work with you if you have any questions or problems (they want to please the customer as they realize the long-term benefits of keeping their students happy and satisfied). I do not pretend to think I know everything about all of the other Spanish schools in Chicago - I suppose (but sincerely doubt) that one could be as good as SLC, but I am absolutely positive that none can be better than SLC. Simply an all-around great experience and I would recommend to all!

• Pros: See above.
• Cons: None.

08/08/06

Diamond in the Rough!

by tsu_yung_kim at Citysearch

When I first signed up for classes I was kind of irritated because the class I signed up for ended up being moved to a different day. They were very accomodating about which day I wanted it to be moved to but I still wasn't very happy about it. I had this feeling like there was going to be all sorts of chaos and disorganization and what not. I was so amazed when classes started and my teacher was incredible, classes started on time (which doesn't happen in some of the other language schools I've been to), and to top it all off the chairs in the Lakeview center are really really comfy. But back to my instructor, I really liked how she compared spanish to english in order to give me like a mental map of what I was learning. I have been to a few of the other schools in Chicago because my company is offering to pay for my classes if I want to learn spanish. I will say that my class was only rescheduled at one other school, but the curriculum at the Spanish Language Center, the teachers, and the overall friendly and comfortable learning atmosphere is worth having to go with a different day. I speak advanced spanish now and can understand native speakers when they talk. I owe it to Spanish Language Center! And also to city search because I found them here.

Tsu Yung Kim

• Pros: teachers, parking, friendly environment
• Cons: had to give a second choice for day of classes

08/02/06

If you're serious about learning, SLC is the place to be!

by kjefferson at Citysearch

I took some spanish classes here a few months ago and thought that I would look around and check out some other schools before I re-enrolled. I'm one of the people who has commitment issues with everything and I usually have to scope out all my options before I stick some where. Anyways, I took a break and went to a few classes at a different school (which will go unnamed for it's own benefit). I didn't realize how many language schools in this city were just little operations run by people who's only marketable skill is being bilingual! I have decided that SLC really does have the best curriculum and their teachers great. I notice that their teachers seem to have a sense of pride about what they are doing and I dig that. I have committed to classes there until I'm 100% fluent and I have every confidence that SLC will get me there.

Kelly

• Pros: curriculum, not only native speakers but trained instructors, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!
• Cons: if you don't register a couple of weeks in advance you might not get in.

06/30/06

Not Recommended !!

by bgrimaldi at Citysearch

I would respectively disagree with the previous reviewers. I was not overly impressed with the facilities, instructors, or the format of the class. My class was not very engaging and I easily lost attention in class. My classmates also shared similar reservations, and I do not think anyone re enrolled.

01/09/06

They are really professional

by kapudere at Citysearch

The teachers in this school are really professional and friendly also.