Testimonials

L. Taylor, New york

Columbia University School of Social Work

There is something magical about El Taller. Before you even enter the door your senses are stimulated by the riot of color on the stairs. When I first walked in I had never taken a Spanish class. After only six months I can now understand, read, speak, and sing, well enough to know that I could navigate in any Spanish-speaking country.

How does El Taller do it? The idea that language can be taught as music is the key. I no longer have to think about which tense to use because I can hear the "song" in my head that tells me: Cuando cante, cantaré. Si cantara, cantaría.

It is not just the method of teaching the language that makes El Taller such a special place. It is also the feeling of warmth and acceptance, the feeling that you are being taken to the heart of a loving family. There are so many ways to enjoy El Taller, from language classes to salsa lessons, art exhibits to musical performances. I feel so fortunate to have discovered this extraordinary community.

E. Brody, New York

My daughter is enjoying herself tons, and hearing her speak Spanish is giving me goosebumps!

E. Timmerer, Austria

During my 4 months stay in New York last autumn and winter I found El Taller a unique place to study Spanish and enjoy the numerous cultural events and above all the possibility of meeting people not only with Latin American background an unforgettable experience. For me as a foreign visitor the Taller represents a multi cultural platform that successfully links diverse communities and as such is exactly what visitors from abroad come to seek in New York.

A. Greenwald, New York

After just four short months El Taller has become so much more than the place where I study Spanish. I've made friends, heard wonderful music, met fascinating people, seen beautiful art and established connections that will last a lifetime. El Taller is a vibrant, necessary part of the fabric of this great city.

E. Greco, New York

The Spanish classes I took at El Taller offered my first experience of speaking real-life Spanish in a classroom, and that made a tremendous difference in my ability to learn to communicate in Spanish. Bernardo Palombo, the founder/director of El Taller, was instrumental in making me feel comfortable enough to attempt speaking in the group, and I was excited finally to be able to speak a bit of Spanish without fainting from fear. But what was transformational for me was the incredible energy and creative atmosphere of El Taller, and the warm community there.

R. Neher, Massachusetts

I gained more from my language class experiences at El Taller than in any college classes or other language school. I have never in my travels encountered a place like it. The people that work and volunteer at El Taller do so because they truly support the learning and artistic expression that the organization fosters. There is a reason that students travel from Brooklyn and Queens to take classes several times a week. Nothing else like El Taller exists in the entire city.

K. Carl, New York

El Taller is the best school I've been to that teaches Spanish the way it should be taught. It is the only school that provides the best cultural experience for all ages, providing language classes, music, dance, and educational talks about the various Spanish speaking countries. I have and will continue to use El Taller for my continued Spanish learning experience. The location of the school is ideal for everyone from New Jersey to Flushing.

M. Wiggin, New York

El Taller is cultural treasure in NYC. Because of El Taller, my family and friends are able to attend weekly affordable Spanish speaking lessons and further our cultural connection with our Latin roots by experiencing the diverse range of arts and artists which El Taller supports. El Taller's commitment to Latin culture is unique and irreplaceable in NYC, if not the entire country.

E. Benson, New York

I studied at El Taller before moving to Buenos Aires, Argentina to work as a journalist. I was tremendously impressed by the rigor of El Taller's program, the warmth of its instructors, and the ambition of its programming. Losing El Taller would be a great disappointment to every New Yorker that values culture, learning, and the vitality of the city.

D.Daniels, Texas

I rode the subway to El Taller from Brooklyn every day for 4 years. I learned so much at El Taller that I could never have figured out at any other school. El Taller was a very important part of my life and i remember it often and fondly.

S. Mortimore, New York

El Taller is wonderful community center which thrives on the diversity of the people it serves. At El Taller I met world class musicians, medical professionals, accountants, actors, writers- even a Rockette! The center is about so much more than the wonderful language classes it provides; it's about creating community through communication.

B. LaBarge, New York

I took a beginning Spanish class at El Taller about a year ago. I learned more from that class than I ever have from any other Spanish class I've taken. I plan on taking the intermediate class soon and also plan to start attending the meet-ups to practice my Spanish. They are a great addition to the cultural and language centers in NYC.

D. Sacks, New York

El Taller is an invaluable member of our community. I have taken a number of dance lessons there and have been to several wonderful cultural events.

D. Heebink, New York

El Taller brings humanity to our city through its language courses, evenings of dance and conversation, laughter, arts, music, and film. This venerable, joyful place has taught doctors to talk to their patients, neighbors to share new words and laughter, and brings soul to all who pass through its doors.

M. Butler-Stone, New york

Department of Family Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center

Your Medical Spanish course is a unique and an integral part of our curriculum...Your course and consultations throughout the year not only expose residents and faculty to the Spanish language, but to the diversity and richness of Latin culture, as well as the subtle differences in language in communicating medical symptoms. Your unique contribution gives favorable impacts on doctor/patient relationships, and thus, improves the delivery of care to the under-served Latin communities of our city.

F. Rubenfeld, New York

When our daughter needed to learn first year high school Spanish in order to catch up with her classmates, El Taller was there for her and allowed her to accelerate her learning over the course of two summer months. What a wonderful educational institution for our neighborhood!

Mary Jo M., New York

My daughter has many happy memories from her weeks with you last summer. We still have many of her beautiful art works and she felt comfortable and at ease with all of her instructors, who made learning fun and interesting.

E. Merino, Spain

El Taller Latino Americano Galería Alexis es uno de los lugares más importantes y emblemáticos que he concido en Nueva York. Es un espacio donde se mezclan las culturas y gran encuentro para los artistas que vamos a Nueva York. Estoy mu contenta de haber expuesto en el Taller Latino y siempre fui muy bien acogida por el Director y su equipo. Es un gran lugar de encuentro para el arte y la cultura de todos los paises sobre todo latinos caribeños, hispanos.

R. Hodel
Amnesty International

Amnesty International wishes once more to express its gratitude to the Taller Latinoamericano for helping to organize the series of activities in Argentina and for providing a space, staff support and its valuable time and energy.

M. Kufert, New York

I have enjoyed the fantastic art exhibitions here. This is a unique and special space.
 

Stephen D. Kaplan
Director/Arts Education, Altos de Chavon

The complicated and difficult translation of our promotional brochure was completed by Taller Latinoamericano with delicacy and skill...I have found no other organization as responsive and creative, in solving the linguistic, cultural problems inherent in translation.

L. Feasley, New York

El Taller is a vital lively place filled with art from the stair landings to the wonderful art shows that come through. It is an asset to the Upper West Side.

V. Ortiz, California

El Taller has been a neighborhood institution without which we all would have been just that much poorer in social and cultural capital. New York City needs places like El Taller now more than ever. The richness of the cities population is reflected in El Taller's extraordinary cultural contributions.

L. Maciel, New York

I have had wonderful experiences at El Taller, and have met people of incredible quality, I also was able to show my artwork there and had a good turn out. I am just one of many hispanic artists who get to show their art at this wonderful space.

B. Baker, New York

El Taller is an amazing cultural resource, and I've felt incredibly fortunate to know and work with everybody in the Taller family. El Taller has enlightened and enriched my New York experience, as I believe it can for New Yorker's from all walks of life.

B. Fried, New York

Next best to learning Spanish in Latin America or with a Latino lover is learning Spanish at El Taller surrounded by Latino warmth, energy, art and soul -- blessed by Bernardo Palombo's extraordinary intellect.

Stay Gold, Adventures in New York

http://tostaygold.blogspot.com

I thought about writing this entry in Spanish, but I have decided to refrain. Anyway, today was the final day of my morning intensive Spanish class at El Taller Latino at 103rd and Broadway. The class was fantastic. The school offered three levels of Spanish classes during the month of July: Beginner I, Beginner II and Intermediate. I was proud of myself on the first day when my high school Spanish background placed me in Beginner II. My class contained approximately 10 students, all with very different backgrounds and purposes for taking Spanish. This particular class was four days a week, although they have classes to accommodate many different schedules. The class had two different teachers that alternated, in order to help us learn more accents when speaking and listening in Spanish. On the first day of class, my profesora said that we were all amigos in the classroom, and that was when I knew that this Spanish class would be more personal than any language class I had taken previously. The school also offers tango and salsa classes and has cultural events. I adored my experience there, so if you are looking for a Spanish class you should definitely check it out.

N. Birnbaum, New York

I have taken classes at El Taller, been to concerts there, and come to their gallery openings. They support artists, Latin music and give GREAT Spanish lessons at an affordable price. They are truly an asset to the neighborhood, the city, the world.

C. Campo, New York

What a wonderful institute that really made a difference in people lives teaching people Spanish as a second language. I had a great time attending classes there, the teachers were just great and was always caring and making sure the teaching was understood before moving on to another topic.

M. Rose De Cruz,         New York

One of the best places to learn Spanish and about the diverse cultures that have the Spanish language as their past or present. Bernardo is truly an inspired teacher and artist and his vision needs to continue to have the home it's been thriving in.

A. Mestre, New York

I know many people, including myself, who have studied at El Taller and we have all been deeply touched by our time there. It serves as a community center, an arts organization, a school and it's an important resource in New York City.

A. Schiff, New York

As a public school teacher I know how important El Taller is. As a student, I took lessons in Spanish at El Taller. This is a gem and important part of our city.

N. Milanich, New York

I regularly send students to their excellent language classes over the summer to prepare them for study abroad experiences. El Taller is an important link in many students' international education.

A. Viladrich, New York

El Taller has become a unique beacon of art and learning in this wonderful city.

E. Kassai, New York

I still cannot forget the great experience, the warm atmosphere, the peace and happiness, the wonderful people of Taller.

S. Gray, California

El Taller is one of the most important cultural institutions in New York! At El Taller, I took excellent Spanish language classes, heard incredible music, saw art, photography and film from Latin America or by Latin American artists in New York. I learned about Latin culture and was inspired to travel to several Latin American countries to photograph and become involved in human rights issues. There is no place like El Taller!!

P. Arndt, New York

El Taller is not just an excellent language instruction center but a friendly and welcoming place where friends and colleagues can gather to practice their newly-learned Spanish, listen to terrific live music, enjoy the art displayed in the gallery or learn salsa.

E. Darton, New York

El Taller Latino Americano is a tremendously important cultural institution on a par with the key museums and art centers of New York City. El Taller's existence should not be contingent on the vagaries of the real estate market or the whims of particular building owners. El Taller ought be recognized as a public good, and its ongoing support should be a matter of simple common sense. The preservation of El Taller as an essential and irreplaceable organism in our environment marks a convergence point of our self-interest and collective survival.

J. Edixhoven, Netherlands

El Taller is doing wonderful work at creating understanding between different cultures, not only between those of Latin America and the northern US, but also in a worldwide perspective. I have had a wonderful time there learning Spanish (which courses were given by a fantastic team of real, enthusiastic and motivated persons).

V. Ortiz, California

El Taller has been a neighborhood institution without which we all would have been just that much poorer in social and cultural capital. New York City needs places like El Taller now more than ever. The richness of the cities population is reflected in El Taller's extraordinary cultural contributions.

M. Terrero, New York

I believe that El Taller is a vital institution for artists and the community at large. I have known El Taller for many years, having brought joy, education, cultural exposure to myself, family and friends.

C. Rivera, New York

El Taller is such a special place. As a community and arts center, it gathers people from around the world to share in the dialogue of life. Spaces that offers such an environment are slowly disappearing and it is imperative that you consider the value a place like El Taller has in its' community. I have attended concerts, arts exhibits, taken Salsa classes and have worked with El Taller to host events...it is a beacon of cultural awareness.

C. Kiebert-Gruen,          New York

I have enjoyed many events at El Taller with my family over the last 15 years. At El Taller, my daughter and her friends have taken classes to learn Spanish and about Latino culture. El Taller is a cultural treasure.

A. Cintolo, New York

This is one of the most unique cultural experiences I have ever encountered.It is a high class institution that creates a better understanding of culture through language, art and music.

B. Lieberman, New York

El Taller is a multifaceted Latin American cultural center, a neighborhood institution, vibrant and large in scope and heart. It is a hub for connecting people with the spirit and influence of Latin American culture.

El Taller, has 30 years of rich experience providing an active place for cross-cultural connections, through its classes in Spanish and the arts, serving toddlers to seniors in its scope, and is a focal point for musicians and artists to meet and collaborate. It has many ongoing events such as Spanish, salsa, art and music classes, concerts, art gallery openings and exhibits.

It models diversity at its best and offers a multiplex of opportunities to many segments of the community.