Spanish Centre in Toronto

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comments 5

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  Amy Frueh

  :: 03 October 2017 21:02:43

  Mi class de Español es estupendo

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  Pamela Chou

  :: 08 September 2017 09:58:39

  I have taken many Spanish courses in different schools in the GTA and I have to say that I only started to learn the language taking courses at the Spanish Centre. They have great teachers, small groups and a methodology that got me speaking from day one. Highly recommended for those who want to learn how to speak conversational Spanish.

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  Spring Ocean

  :: 25 August 2017 14:09:53

  Convenient location, beautiful building and small pleasant classrooms could truly make this Centre the IT place for learning Spanish in Toronto.However, there is a sense of malaise on the main floor, where the reception area is locked and dark within the supposed hours of operation. Same sense of malaise is also represented by the second floor bathroom, recently not operational for two weeks and then not repaired sufficiently.While I had two outstanding teachers in the two classes, not all the teachers hired by the Centre have a teaching background and can be hired solely because they are native speakers but in fact they have no idea how to teach.I wasted my time in one class with such a clueless teacher. The Centre provides a beautifully printed booklet for each course. The booklet contains 5 chapters, supposedly corresponding with 5 sessions of each course (recently the Saturday morning course , up to now consisting of 5 two hours sessions was compressed into 4 sessions , each being two and half hours long.Although the number of hours stays the same, the decision could not have been made by a person with a teaching experience. Much less can be taught/learned in this shortened course). Moreover,these booklets are containing too much information for the length of the course and thus each course ends at the beginning of the 4th chapter.The teachers usually inform the students at the beginning of each course that it will not be possible to finish the 5 chapters. Therefore, a student goes into the next level, which is build on the students' knowledge of the previous 5 chapters.This discrepancy between the materials and the time to process them is a build-in frustration for teachers and students alike. Last year , about this time, excellent one - time workshops for an overview of materials were offered to students for a minimal payment, this year the offer is not repeated. Furthermore,the teachers and students are informed only very shortly before the beginning of the course, who will teach it. I was told at the reception desk that the teachers' names will be posted on the web closer to the start of the course but the names are never posted there. To conclude, while the building itself is conducive to welcoming the students, this Centre needs to be transformed from the money-making machine into a true educational environment, led by experienced educators.A high turnover of staff suggests that all is not well also regarding the work conditions there. The transformation is needed so the place and its students could thrive.

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  Craig Copland

  :: 13 July 2017 11:55:37

  I signed up in February as a beginner and kept coming twice a week until July. So did most of the other students who began at the same time I did. Overall, an excellent experience. We moved quickly through the bulk of Spanish grammar and, even in a small group, had extensive opportunities to speak and write the new vocabulary and grammar we were learning. The fees were reasonable and the location convenient. Our instructor, Patricia, was fabulous -- always fully prepared; has a profound knowledge of languages; brings great, uninterrupted energy to every class; and laughs a lot. All of us enjoyed the classes. Recommended.

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  Luca Lamanna

  :: 27 June 2017 20:54:45

  I had two different class cycles here. Already arriving with an advanced level in Spanish and only looking to maintain/practice, I registered in the highest level offered. The classes were still too much of a beginner level for me and I found the teacher had to keep switching into English to be understood. The classes themselves had mixed level students but I would totally recommend the school for beginners or those looking to learn Spanish.