Language Stars

Cleo and I had a great experience with Ms Benny at Language Stars. It was the mommy — daughter 2year old class… we highly recommend it! Cleo remembers lots of the details from the language and the class overall. so impressive. We will be back.

The idea is great but it is definitely overpriced. I know myself that the great experienced teachers do not get paid well, so they charge definitely too much. I speak many languages and know that your child needs to go more than twice a week to LS for many years to really learn more than their routine songs etc. At LS that’s all they will learn. Older Kids never go to really learn the grammar. It is a fun place to be, but parents please don’t expect your child to really speak the language after all the years at LS, even if LS will tell you sth else. I have been there and have not seen a child being fluent in a language but only knowing few phrases which they can learn easily from a babysitter of another country too.

My daughter has been taking Italian at Language Stars for two years. She loves it! They teach in fun ways using songs, and toys. The teacher is well trained really cares about the kids. My child is 3 and can hold an opening conversation in Italian.
Aside from the fun, the staff is very helpful and accommodating. I couldnt make the class on Elston for a couple months and went to the Evanston/​Wilmette class for awhile (it is also great). Then when we were ready to switch back it was no problem. I can make up classes when ever and where ever I need too. Also, I have already put a down payment on summer camp and when I asked what would happen if we cant make it they told me they would help me find another class or refund my money.
The only reason that is has 4 stars is because it is pricey. Pricey but worthwhile!

Language Stars has been an exceptional program for my 4 year old twins.
They participated in their summer camp program and are now in a weekday Mandarin immersion course.
They offer one free trial class to see if you and your child would be interested in how they teach the language. All teachers are native speakers and speak only in the language your child is studying.
The time in class is entertaining and effective. It is broken up to cover a daily lessons such as numbers, foods or colors. Music, artwork and games help strengthen each exercise. Students are provided with worksheets that they take home and parents are given a study guide that can help reinforce each lesson.
Outside of the usual benefits of learning a foreign language at an early age, I have noticed that my children have a greater sensitivity to language and more flexibility in their problem solving skills. We are planning to continue lessons at Language Stars well into their future.

My son is 6 years old and has been going to Language Stars since he was 13 months old. I am so thankful that a school such as Language Stars exists in the Chicago area. (My brother is in the Palm Beach area and cannot find the same type of school for his children down there.) My son has been learning two languages since he was two years old and is doing well in learning both languages. He has had numerous teachers, and has liked them all. I feel he benefits from hearing different people speak either French or German. He has learned his native language from numerous speakers and I feel that he is learning foreign language in the same way. I like that the learning is play-​based and know the importance of play when teaching young children. The staff in the Lincoln Park office is wonderful. They are most accomodating when a family needs to reschedule a class or have a child attend the class at a different time. My child will continue with Language Stars until he is too old to attend. It is imperative that my son and children of his generation learn foreign language because my son’s generation is going to need to know a second language to thrive in the work world. Since it is not likely that most American public schools will begin to teach foreign language from kindergarten through high school, I feel so fortunate to be able to give my son the gift of learning a foreign language at Language Stars.

This place is definitely pricey, but we believe it’s worth it. I’ve been bringing my son to the Parents and Tots German class for about 7 months, and as he is learning to speak, he is also saying some German words, and he enjoys it. We started when he had just turned one, but I wouldn’t recommend that, because it’s like an hour of preschool in German. He couldn’t walk or sit on a chair safely alone, so the snack time /​craft time was tough. I think the class is really for kids 18 months — 3 years, not 1 – 3.
We’ve loved both of the instructors we’ve had — Nina and Heike. Nina is really high-​energy and a lot of fun. Heike is quieter but very attuned to the kids and draws the best out of them in a very sweet way. I also really like the other moms and children in the class. The first session class had 6 kids, and our current class has 4. The downer is that it’s offered only once a week, which really isn’t sufficient, but there are some German language playgroups around the city that we’re looking into to supplement that. I also like the make-​up policy that you can use other locations. The indoor parking is very convenient.
My mother-​in-​law is fluent in German and she also loves taking my son to the class. We try to use the words we’ve learned in the class during the week, and the topics and activities are fun. They email you some materials to supplement at home.

I took my daughter to Language Stars for almost a year. While the structure of the class is fine and my daughter seemed to enjoy it, the cost of it is ridiculous. The only reason I paid for the 1^st year is because my daughter takes German and there aren’t any other schools that offer German at such a young age. But yes, I was paying $ 46 per class! While other toddler-​mommy-​and-​me classes are around $ 20 per class. OR if you go through Chicago Park District classes are about $ 4 per class. Language Stars is a total rip off. I now have a German babysitter who plays with my daughter for 4 hours and it only costs $ 50. Don’t go here… it’s not competitively priced.

We have had our daughter there since she was 12 months old and she is now almost five. We strongly believe that learning languages in this age is essential and why, despite the high cost have enrolled her there. Now that she is older, there are lower cost options we will look at for next year, but are confident she has the base to go into a more traditional class.
This year we are doing three hours a week essentially as her foreign language pre-​school and have been happy,
At times, especially when she was in the parent child classes, the classes were too large, eight children and eight plus, parents and others was too much. Now in the older class, it is smaller, often only three or four students and much more to our satisfaction. If you want your child to learn a language, especially if you are not fluent in it, I would highly recommend.

I enrolled my 2yr son in the Spanish program and LOVED it, at the time he was 19mos. I loved his teacher and their approach to teaching the language. The offer a free trial class which I think is a great opportunity to make sure its a fit for you and your child. I also enjoyed the atmosphere, very welcoming. Unfortunately I had to withdraw him but I look forward to starting up again sometime this summer/​fall. It is pricey but well worth it!