Language School Testimonials

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“I wanted to thank you for these classes. When you told Jennifer and I we were your first post-COVID students, I wanted to tell you that these classes have been a source of great joy and comfort for me in a really weird hard time and I am so grateful for you and them. It has given me something really interesting and fun to focus on and divert any feelings of life uncertainty as it takes real focus and work. But it is also super fun too and a life goal to learn another language.”

— Tara

“Travelling with the Language Learning Institute is a wonderful experience! The groups are small, there is a lot of variety, and the trips are flexible enough that you can break away and do your own thing for a while if you want. I have never really wanted to do that, though, because the planned activities are so interesting. I have been on two trips on which I learned a lot about the different regions of France and even Belgium. The trip cost includes five or so sessions before the trip in which we learn about what we are going to experience and in which we learn a little of the language so that we can at least order in French. There is also a wine and cheese party in which we sample the products of the regions we are going to visit and in which we get to know our trip mates better. I would recommend the Learn French and Travel trips to anyone, but particularly for those who want to visit a country in a way that combines the security of a group with the flexibility to do your own thing!”

— Karen Watkins (Schenectady, NY)

“I have been on three of Nancy’s Learn French and Travel programs. Prior to departure, Nancy offers introductory programs, where travelers become acquainted with each other and learn about the regions they will be touring. Before each tour, there is also a wine and cheese tasting where group members become acquainted with the wines and cheeses of the regions to be visited. Nancy’s tours visit buildings and places of historic interest as well as various museums. Nancy’s small groups enjoy comradery and good food. I have found Nancy’s tours to be both educational and enjoyable.”

— Virginia Camerman (Abany, NY)

“It was stress-free. Lots of fun with a lot of learning.”

— Julienne B.

“The unique teaching method helped me to build vocabulary and grammar and to continue studying on my own. I speak French every day even if only a few minutes and to myself. I especially like the intensive oral approach. I have been able to get my message across when visiting French-speaking countries.”

— Bea A.

“Planning a visit to Quebec province, I decided to attend a set of adult evening classes given by Nancy Scarselletta at a local high school. Her enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, the French language prompted me to sign up for further individual lessons. Over the last two years, I have come to appreciate Nancy’s vast experience –and infinite patience! — in teaching French with her unique emphasis on phonetics which she studied at the Sorbonne. In my opinion, French is not an easy language for English speakers given its unusual rules with multiple exceptions, potential liaisons, numerous irregular verbs, unfamiliar phonics, and plentiful idioms. I’ve appreciated Nancy’s approach and guidance throughout the course. And it’s been fun.”

— Richard Harlow

“Nancy provided excellent resources for learning French on a more advanced level. I enjoyed both private and group lessons with her.”

— Dawn T.

“Excellent in working with my girls. A fun experience for the kids while learning a new language.”

— Christianne C.

“I have been a student for nearly nine months at the time of this review. This is a fun and rewarding learning environment. I especially appreciate having a textbook and a workbook to aid in the learning process.”

— James Hall

“The Language Learning Institute makes learning a new language fun and wanting more!”

— Reviewer604

“This is my first experience with The Language Learning Institute. I have always wanted to learn to speak the Italian language. My grandparents on both sides are from Italy and I wish that my parents spoke the language to us but they wanted to make sure English was spoken all the time. I have only good things to say about the Institute. The instructors are all very knowledgeable in the Italian language and of the country. As a beginner, they make me feel very comfortable learning this beautiful language. I have enjoyed all of my classes and look forward to future classes with the Institute.”

— Joanne M. Wagner (Schenectady, NY)

“The Language Learning Institute is the only venue which teaches more than just conversational Italian, other than enrolling in a college course. I had tried a few Italian language classes from other continuing education places but it was always the same: the class was dominated by those planning a trip to Italy and wanting to have travel vocabulary and phrases under their belts.

The Language Learning Institute teaches Italian as a true language-you learn by listening to Italian, speaking it, reading it and writing it. We have a text book and a workbook, and are tackling all the basics of a language-alphabet, grammar, idioms, the way the Italians think. The price is reasonable, the pace is great for working people, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable.”

— Katherine Better (Loudonville, NY)

“The Language Learning Institute helped me to develop functional conversation skills in French. Despite many years of the language in school, I felt at a loss in being able to communicate effectively. I know I will be more confident as well as better prepared on my next trip to France.”

— Betsey Kuzia (Albany, NY)

“Just got tested by Latvia’s French Cultural Ctr., where I plan to take 60 hrs of French in 3 weeks in January; could not pass up the quality and/or the price. I got credit for a semester’s worth of class work from our classes this past year and shall get a certificate of accomplishment after the intensive course here. This, to let you know that your work in the States is appreciated.”

— Maija Collins (Delmar, NY)

“We moved to Niskayuna from California in 2006 where my son was enrolled in French 1.2 with no previous experience in French. Nancy tutored him weekly and he excelled. By the end of the year he had an “A” and won a regional merit award. Ronny just completed his 5th year of French and will be attending Northeastern University in the fall.”

— Linda Brezinski (Niskayuna, NY)

“My daughter has been receiving private French lessons at the Language Learning Institute for about a year. Under the tutelage of director, Nancy Scarselletta, her listening, speaking, and writing skills have flourished and her confidence has grown immensely.”

— Michele Marie

“The atmosphere at the institute creates a very comfortable learning environment, making learning a new language easy and fun. Highly recommend!”

— Dustin Jefferi

“Nancy is an outstanding teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed my lessons with her!”

— Dawn Tonneau

“Very accommodating with class time. Have been a French and Spanish student with Learning Language Institute.”

— Elizabeth Mei Wong

“An excellent and fun experience for my girls to learn a new language.”

— Chrisanne Cirillo

“A positive learning environment has helped me achieve my goal! It is worth it!”

— Rachel Cote

Are your studies getting caught in the University budget cuts? Are you looking for a place to continue and enhance your studies? We, at The Language Learning Institute, had the opportunity to create a university level program to help a doctorate level student prepare for an foreign language exam needed to fulfill a degree requirement. Here is what she says about her experience:

To Whom It May Concern:
I am a PhD student in the Department of History at the University at Albany and in spring 2011, I completed an Intensive French Reading course at the Language Learning Institute. To meet the research tool requirement for my degree, I was required to pass a two hour written examination demonstrating my ability to translate a 500 word article from French to English. Students are given two opportunities to pass the examination and I am pleased to say that thanks to the wonderful work of Nancy Scarselletta and the Language Learning Institute, I passed on the first try.

I had exhausted all resources to learn French, including taking two semesters of beginning French at a local community college and traveling over a hundred miles away for an intensive French weekend course but I still had a long way to go to ever hope to pass the translation exam. Fortunately, I found the Language Learning Institute through my local school district’s Community Education Program and took their ten week beginning French course which concentrated on speaking and listening comprehension skills. This was my introduction to Nancy and the LLI.

Nancy took the initiative to create the Intensive French Reading course following a conversation we had a little over a year ago. I knew that I needed a very targeted and intensive course in order to pass the translation exam. Nancy designed the course from scratch, developing a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum with excellent translation practices given for homework. She narrowed down the essential verb tenses and provided very good handouts to have as reference tools when completing the homework. The two workbooks that we used, one directly fromFrance and entirely in French were also quite helpful. This was an intensive course and I worked very hard to complete all of the assignments but the hard work was worth it many times over. I was amazed and pleased at the rapid progress I made in reading French over the course of one spring semester. And I was thoroughly delighted when I passed the University’s examination on the first try.

I highly recommend the Language Learning Institute for anyone seeking to learn another language. The quality of their courses is excellent.

Sincerely,

— June Mastan

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