Cambridge Center for Adult Education

I took the intensive drawing bootcamp with Brett Xavier Gamache and really enjoyed it. Brett is a patient and generous instructor. He provided just the right amount of advice and instruction regardless of each person's level of experience. I have some drawing experience but it's been many decades since I took a formal class. Many of the techniques that Brett shared were familiar to me but good reminders. Most helpful was having Brett review my work at different points during the process, and offer advice on how to proceed. Thank you, Brett, for an enjoyable reintroduction to drawing. I look forward to taking another class. The CCAE could do better in communicating what to expect and in keeping the listing up to date. The description says it's 6 hours but it's listed as running from 10am-2:30pm. The supply list was incorrect so I purchased much more than I needed and didn't have items that I did need. They should also note that you only have about 30 minutes for lunch and Cambridge eateries can be very crowded on a Sunday. I would have brought a lunch.

The Cambridge Center for Adult Education (CCAE), housed beautifully in a historic space on Brattle Street, is, in my genuinely enthusiastic assessment and based on the delightful stories from friends who consistently take their courses, the absolute best local resource for accessible, non-degree lifelong learning and creative exploration in the entire Cambridge area. Everyone I’ve spoken with consistently raves about the incredible diversity of the class offerings, spanning everything from practical language skills and finance to fine arts and cooking, the engaged and passionate instructors, and the friendly, welcoming community atmosphere, emphasizing that it makes education feel exciting, low-pressure, and deeply rewarding for adults of all ages. I’ve learned from their narratives that the atmosphere is one of shared curiosity and active personal development, making it an exceptional place to pick up a new hobby, acquire a critical skill, or simply meet creative people. My subjective conclusion is that the CCAE is an irreplaceable civic asset and a true testament to the joy of continuous learning - you absolutely must browse their catalog and sign up for something new next term!

My son is a special needs and I was looking to a place for him to go because he loves to paint and I found this place is the best that I could find in my life because he loves it and he doesn’t feel discriminated because of his needs, and I will recommend it to everyone who desires to learn is excellent environment, I can explain but i’m so glad I found it and I’m looking forward every two days that my son goes there to bring him there. Thank you so much.

I've taken two art courses here. One was wonderful--Jeremy Durling is a really good instructor and I would strongly recommend his figure drawing course. The other course (different instructor) was... less good. I would recommend buying a single admission if possible for the courses here as it seems like the quality varies wildly and the tuition is non-refundable.

I have taken an ESL Advanced course (Speaking For Business And Specific Purposes) several month ago. I will not recommend this course to anyone based on my awful experience. I was very disappointed that the instructor seems lack of teaching skills and his behavior/attitude is also not qualified to be an English instructor. During the course, the instructor performed very rudely and usually spoke offensive words to the students. His course is full of prejudices about the world that made me feel very uncomfortablely. I sincerely hope the instructor can step out of his stereotype and open his eyes to see the real world.

I heard from artist and art teacher friends that the place to learn about printmaking in Boston was the Cambridge Center because for many years Selma Bromberg has been teaching artists at all levels of experience to do printmaking. So when I retired I signed up for her class, and I have really enjoyed it. I had not done any printmaking before, and I had not taken an art class in almost fifty years. She is great with beginners, non-judgmental, low-keyed, and has a good sense of humor and wonder about the making of art. She is an expert artist who does beautiful work, but we are all equal in the process--as fellow learners--as we make art around her work table. The people in the class ranged from all ages and levels of experience and they often help and encourage each other. I did not need to know anything about drawing to make prints, and yet this class has encouraged me to read and study drawing and other artistic fields. Busy people come during their evenings or sign up for Open Studio. You learn something new in every class. It is such a great experience--try it!!!!! And the Center has a lot of other great teachers of drawing, gel prints, encaustics, etc. Plenty to learn!

PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING PAYMENT since you cannot change it afterward!!!! I attend Spanish class here, the tutor is great. However, I'm very unsatisfied with the Cambridge Center rules for class registration. Before the class section start, I found that I've been extremely busy recently, so I ask if I can get my refund since I'm not even attending yet, but they said no refund is allowed. So I choose to come anyway. The schedule I choose is start from 7:45 and end at 9:15. When I come back from the center, I saw many drunk people along the street, and someone even pull water on me. So in case of safety purpose, I asked if I can change my class schedule to another time or wait till next section, but they said very straightly that no reschedule can be made after the first class. I said I understand, but I can't realize this until I attended two or three classes. Then she said nothing she can do.....then she gave me the email address, i asked how long I can hear back from email since last time I haven't heard back, and she didn't response me. The tutor is great, and I do love learning Spanish with classmates, it's just the rule that really makes me angry!!!!! So PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING PAYMENT since you cannot change it afterward!!!!

I've taken two Spanish classes through CCAE, and I've enjoyed both of them quite a lot. I've learned a great deal, and the atmosphere is welcoming and completely non-intimidating. The teachers I've had have both been good, and I've enjoyed getting to know my classmates. I'm looking forward to taking another Spanish class next term. For the price, the classes are really great. It's far, far less expensive than a college course, but, of course, you don't receive any credits for the CCAE classes. If you just want to learn for the sake of knowledge, however, it's the place to go!

I took the intensive drawing bootcamp with Brett Xavier Gamache and really enjoyed it. Brett is a patient and generous instructor. He provided just the right amount of advice and instruction regardless of each person's level of experience. I have some drawing experience but it's been many decades since I took a formal class. Many of the techniques that Brett shared were familiar to me but good reminders. Most helpful was having Brett review my work at different points during the process, and offer advice on how to proceed. Thank you, Brett, for an enjoyable reintroduction to drawing. I look forward to taking another class. The CCAE could do better in communicating what to expect and in keeping the listing up to date. The description says it's 6 hours but it's listed as running from 10am-2:30pm. The supply list was incorrect so I purchased much more than I needed and didn't have items that I did need. They should also note that you only have about 30 minutes for lunch and Cambridge eateries can be very crowded on a Sunday. I would have brought a lunch.

I have joined the chorus and the people a wonderful as is the instructor. The people that feed the lunch are all friendly and helpful to those who need it.

Their kitchen is cramped, ill-provisioned, poorly managed, and generally a very bad place to be learning culinary arts. I would *never* go there again for another class, now that I know how bad their facilities are!

Great place to try out some new hobbies!! I've taken several cooking classes, painting, tai chi and have enjoyed them all!

This is my first experience taking a class through CCAE and I guarantee it won't be my last. The ramen class I took was full, and with good reason. The chef, Ploy Khunisorn, seems to know her stuff, and she's fun to watch. I learned a great deal about making ramen, (which is one of my favorite things to eat while in Japan), and also a great thing to treat myself to when at select spots in Cambridge. The class was affordable, fun, and interesting. I highly recommend this particular class. I'm excited to try her Thai street food class in the future.

I have had such an amazing experience with the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. I took a beginner built a box woodworking class and had a blast. The two instructors were very helpful, I learned some new techniques to add to my previous woodworking experience, and was able to be creative in my box design. I work a normal 9-5 job so having class options at night was very helpful. The CCAE is also a very easy three minute walk from the Harvard T which was definitely a bonus. Will be taking more classes in the future.

Good value. I have taken about 10 different classes here and rate all 4 to 5 stars. The biggest variable is who you get as classmates. There is no cost barrier as these sessions are affordable so the doors are wide open to very young or old, educated or not, computer savvy or luddite etc. Only so much a teacher can do when someone just doesn't get it. Teachers in my experience were always dedicated and knowledgeable.

Found the Spanish teachers lacking in common courtesy. They'll do a group exercise and leave one person out yet share themselves? I found this bewildering?

I have taken many classes here over the years and I have just now realized that I have never reviewed this place (??) Need a public speaking class to get over your shyness - done Want to learn more about grant writing - have it Always wanted to brush up on your cello playing - boom Fascinated with the art of the banjo and want to see if you have the talent - bam Going abroad and need a Russian refresher course - thank you Need a gift for a 40th birthday and hope they use it for that stained glass class they are always taking about - yes, ma'am Learn to dance the standards and then move on to the tango with the significant other who is now your hubby - hello These are just a sampling of what I have taken over the years. The most recent one was a couples massage class. It was done with about a group of 5 other couples and very tastefully executed. I really learned a lot and bonus points for the hubby for humoring me (he said he liked it too :)

I took a cooking class at CCAE last week (it's the only class I've taken there). The location is great. I can't comment on the facilities besides the cooking room (I believe there is only one). I was a bit spoiled by the gorgeous new cooking rooms at BCAE (I've taken 2 or 3 cooking classes there), and I thought the cooking room at CCAE was a bit older and cramped. However, they had everything we needed! It was a warm day- about 75/80- and the room got ridiculously hot with 20 people inside of it, both ovens going, and burner on- and there were no fans or AC in the room. At first I got into the class, but by the end I mostly sat in the corner by the window trying not to sweat. A few other people were in the corner with me for the same reason! That being said, the instructor was super friendly and so were the other people in the class- and all the food was delicious! I'd take a class here again, but I thought the cooking facilities at BCAE were definitely nicer, and cooking classes were about the same price. But a fan or a window AC would have gone a long way to making the class more enjoyable!

I have not yet taken a class here but they have so many interesting offerings and I've heard really good things about their classes. The fact that Boston has so many great adult education options is one of the main attractions for me. I love the location in Harvard Square and I love that the building has a restroom that you can just walk in and use. They have everything from art classes to writing classes to cooking and physical education. You can pick up a booklet out front. --update. I have so far had two classes I signed up for here get cancelled. So, be aware that this is a possibility and have a backup plan. It was pretty annoying because I was very excited about both classes.

I would give 5 stars for the dance and language classes I've taken there, and 4 stars for the cooking classes. The cooking classes are not worth the cost, in my opinion. I got a delicious meal, but I didn't feel like I learned a lot; certainly not $85 worth for a 3-hour evening class. The two ballroom dance classes we took were great. The instructor was skilled and clearly passionate about teaching, and we covered the basics of a ton of different dances - foxtrot, waltz, tango, swing, merengue, cha cha, and rumba. I'm currently taking an intro Russian class, which is enjoyable and moves at a nice relaxed pace for a once/week evening course.

I felt a little like a whimsical old lady when I decided that I finally had enough free time and motivation (an upcoming trip to Paris) to learn French, and honestly expected to be the only young person among other whimsical old ladies in the class. But I was happy to find that people who take classes at the CCAE are normal folks of all ages who just want to learn something new. In my class, there is a Harvard undergrad who didn't want to clutter her schedule with full time French, a research assistant sick of science (kind of like me), an older Brazilian gentleman - I don't know why he decided to learn, but he's funny, - a dentist who already speaks Spanish (like me), and wants to know another language, and me, a young doctor with 1 year and 1 year only to do what she pleases before real life begins. In general, at the CCAE, the possibilities are many. Foreign languages, ballroom dancing, kabala, yoga, bistro cooking, even a weekend seminar on making Coq au Vin. The building (I am at 56 Brattle) has a distinct village schoolhouse feel, as in, it's wikked old and creaky, painted an odd green color, and has actual chalkboards with actual chalk (in your face, dry erase marker and powerpoint!). Learning French is completely different from learning medicine, and SUCH a pleasure!! And so cheap and so worth it!! Check it out: "Je suis Americaine, je suis petite et ne suis pas assez grosse." !! I'm so happy, I might sign up to learn something else. Creative writing? Massage techniques? Baroque painting for beginners? Just some ideas....

I signed up for two summer term classes this year because I was feeling overly ambitious. I went online and signed up for a CSS and a Python class. My CSS class was great, probably because I didn't feel like an idiot in that class because I have some idea what CSS is and use it everyday at work, but don't really know the ins and outs. There were people in that class that range from around 25-50ish, men and women on all levels. Then there was the Python class. I was definitely the stupidest person in that class, no doubt about it. I managed to make it to maybe 3 classes and had to drop out because I my eyes would get all glassy, nothing was sinking in, and I would ask stupid questions like "Um...where's the Command Prompt window?" Plus, the guy who taught the class would ask me at the end of every class, "Was that okay for you? Did you need me to explain things more?" Maybe if he talked s-l-o-w-e-r, I would understand things better. This really annoyed me because I paid almost $200 for the class and it stated that it was for Python users of all levels. I routed around their site to see if there was any chance of a refund and I just have to fill out a class evaluation sheet and write a letter explaining my dissatisfaction with the class. A few days later, I get an email stating that they refunded my full tuition fee to be used as course credit. So now instead of learning Python, I'm taking a yoga class. I'm not so much worried about being the dumbest one in my yoga class. I'm more worried about being the gassiest one.

No. No, no, no, no, no! Based on looks alone, I would never step foot in this place again. This is the sketchiest looking place known to man. I've been to the Boston Center for Adult Education many times, and this one is NOTHING like it, so don't make the same mistake I did and think that it is. I show up, and the class is canceled. Why? Not enough people enrolled. Did they notify anyone? No. Why? Because they didn't have a phone number or e-mail address on file. Uhhh, how is that possible when you have to register with an email address in order to purchase a class? You know what... nevermind. Bye!

I love languages. I've been wanting to learn Chinese for a while and was saving up the money to take it at the Chinese Institute in Chinatown. Then I had some sort of epiphany that this place existed. I've often received their quarterly brochures in the mail but really never gave them a thought until this past fall. I've been in grad school for a number of years. Finally I had the time and the cost of language classes here are about $200 for a 10 session course. I enrolled (am currently taking) beginner Chinese. Our first class was cancelled though I'm not quite sure that CCAE will be making up the class. I assume that we will. But other than that I'm completely satisfied with the course so far. Our teacher is also a professor at UMASS and the textbook we use is a great compliment to the in class instruction. Even though our full class of 12 has whittled down into a sharp 5-6 people half way through we're still progressing. Our teacher comes in every week ready to go over our lesson. She also e-mails us supplementary notes for the chapter we're studying. And does conversation drills in class. She also teaches us proper etiquette and 3 different ways to say things. So far I'm very pleased with my Chinese learning experience and would definitely consider taking another language course here.

Ah, enjoy the sounds of an adult community education center: The Spanish class ..."Me estás poniendo muy caliente." The yoga class..."Breaatthhhhhe! namaste!" The landscaping class......(landscaping classes don't make noise, silly!) and my class, the wine tasting class,...Ah, vintage 2008, aged on oak clearly" With hearing being the least tantalized sense during my wine tasting class, I learned to fully engage my nose, mouth, and eyes to appreciate wine. The instructor's knowledge and undeniable passion for the subject really made me understand that wine is not a dull hobby of the pretentious (me? pretentious? could I even fake it?) but rather a very scientific connection to nature. I further learning how to identify the grapes, region, and aging process in a fun and down to earth environment. But we are not here to review wine tasting in general but rather to review the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Nestled in little cottage on Brattle Street, everyone I dealt with from the instructor to the front door man were pleasant and smiley. Previously I knew enough to roll my eyes when family drank Zinfandel but couldn't tell you why and so my brother invested in this class for me as a Christmas present. A busy work and travel schedule forced me to constantly switch classes, and the center was extremely accommodating throughout it all. Not at all volatile, I'd describe the complexity of my experience with the center as clean, lively, and perhaps just a tad bit nutty! (See. I learned something.)

"Painting as Self-Expression"? Well, it turned out to be more like still life oil painting for beginners but it was still a great class. One of many that they offer here for between 100 and 200 dollars for 10 or so weeks. Sign up people! Expand your repertoires, increase your life skills and give yourself outlets of artistry. Not once did I feel burdened to get to my class and it never felt like being back at school again. I'll be back in summer to see if I can improve on my tulips-in-vase masterpiece.

My wife and I took a Wordpress class here and were generally satisfied, although we both think the teacher spent a bit too much time on basic background material aimed towards people who have no idea how the Web works. That sort of stuff could be covered in a handout/email for people to review before the class started and would allow class time to be spent much more productively. Nice facilities that were clean and neat. No real complaints, pretty good experience all around.

I think the Cambridge Center takes a bit of a back seat to it's bigger colleague, the Boston Center. That's a shame. The CCAE is a lovely place. They offer lots of great classes and have a funky, laid back feel even while being well organized and thorough. I've been around the Center for my whole life. My parents have volunteered there for as long as I can remember, I have taken classes, my kids have taken classes, and most recently I've even done some teaching there myself. I think maybe the center has a bit of a reputation of being stodgy or for old people, but that is really not the case, and I totally suggest checking out the catalog at www.ccae.org

CCAE is fabulous! There are still 20-30 classes that I would love to take but haven't had opportunity to yet. The classes that I have taken have been wonderful. So far I've indulged in singing, writing, dancing, business and kick-boxing classes and intend to take sewing, cooking, wine appreciation, photography and more. The prices are great, the teachers are knowledgeable and fun and my classmates also have been fantastic. I've been taking classes here for about 3 years and I highly recommend CCAE, it's convenient and fun! It's also great for those who want to learn something but don't want the pressure of tons of homework and grades. After grad school I'm done with that for awhile. CCAE rocks!

I took an all day photography class here. It was well worth the $125 fee! The instructor was knowledgeable, a great teacher, funny and I learned a ton. The facility needs some work, it's a bit dumpy, but I suppose that's what keeps the prices down. It can be tough to get someone on the phone if you need to discuss your registration with someone. Other than that, this place really has it together regarding the things that matter! The courses are great and the quality of the instructors is too!

Josh and I took two semesters of salsa lessons and loved it. We stopped due to time constraints - that, and we just weren't that good. Well, he was, I sucked. The teachers were amazing. They broke down the steps well, were very clear and were amazing dancers. But they also made it incredibly fun. Javier has such a wonderful sense of humor, that even when we were all frustrated or confused, he fixed what was wrong with a joke. Class outing to Grendel's and student organized salsa nights only added to the camaraderie we already felt. I would recommend this class to anyone - inherent talent or no. Watch out though, you switch partners every few minutes, so don't expect to be dancing with the person you came with (if you signed up as a couple), since that will not be the case. The CCAE itself is well run and the website is easy to use.

I am taking Spanish and Grant Writing right now and both classes are excellent. The teachers really know their stuff, and the staff at CCAE are incredibly friendly and helpful. The classes are so cheap--this is an excellent value. If you've been thinking about brushing up on whatever language you took in high school, go here--it's a quarter of the price of other area language schools and personally I know I've learned more than my friends who went to one of them. I'm definitely going to keep up with Spanish and take some cooking classes to boot!

CCAE is right on par with BCAE (Brookline), NCAE (Newton) and all the other Adult Ed programs in the Greater Boston Area. I love, love, love flipping through their catalogues in the Spring and Winter and always look forward to seeing what's being offered! I recently took "Finance for Non-Financial Managers and Entrepreneurs" here and was very pleased with the 4-hr class, which was taught by a really nice gentleman named Mel Epstein (a Stanford business alum!). The CCAE really does offer a wonderful variety of courses and one-off classes like the one I took in addition to hosting talks & seminars. The Harvard Square location also makes it quite fun in my opinion (look for the historic yellow house at the end of Church Street!), though if you're driving, parking is a bummer, of course. In any case, do check these guys out- it's a great organization and I hope they'll stick around for years to come! :) Bravo!

I've been taking classes from CCAE on and off for nearly a decade. In my experience, the quality of class varies tremendously, primarily based on the abilities and personality of the teacher, though the overwhelming majority of classes I have taken have been good to excellent. A few of my favorite classes have been Arabic 1, residential landscaping (with a focus on native plants), and a variety of one-day vegetarian cooking and baking classes. Indeed, their catalog's largest section is nearly invariably the Food & Wine one (true for most of the Adult Ed Centers here), but they also offer courses on languages, sports & other exercise, writing, contemporary issues, arts, sciences, crafts, computers, financial & business issues, self-improvement, and a variety of other courses. My worst experience there was with a cooking class instructor who seemed to generally dislike teaching - for example, she seemed impatient or sometimes downright exasperated every time everyone asked a question, as if we should all be able to soak up her knowledge just by being in proximity with her - and who seemed to especially personally dislike me, to the point where she would criticize me whenever she walked past my "station," even though it was a class on baking and I've been baking since I was a child (there are plenty of things I don't know much about in this world, but baking is not one of them). I figured that it wasn't worth enduring feeling berated and generally frustrated just to feel like I'd gotten my full money's worth by staying, and I simply walked out of class partway through. If the class lasts more than one session and you're dissatisfied, you can withdraw and ask to be transferred to another course (as long as you do it within the first class or two). The classes are so inexpensive that I feel it's worth the possibility. I have really enjoyed learning a variety of things that I would have either had to learn on my own or likely never learned at all, and even the few bad apples helped me better realize what qualities I dislike in a teacher, which has been helpful to me too.

Two weeks away from finishing my first course and signed up for another one at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. I've been pleased with all the different courses offered, something for everyone. The first course I took was Japanese 1. The teacher is a native speaker and takes the time to explain any questions. Most of the students are first time Japanese learners but I find it really helpful if you've taken Japanese in the past as the teacher goes quickly. The next course I signed up for is Principles of Investing. I'll amend this review once I've finished that course.

I held off reviewing CCAE until my Advanced Spanish Conversation course ended. In hindsight, I admit that my expectations were too high for such an inexpensive course. First of all, attendance was fickle- the class started out so full that I could barely speak for eight minutes a class and then dwindled to barely a handful by the end. I'm sure every student in my class had the best intentions to improve their Spanish but the class was not enticing and productive enough to make them come back. Although the instructor was upbeat and engaging, the class was not well organized and I did much more listening than speaking. I would consider taking another course at CCAE but would probably try something I've never done before... maybe Intro to Belly Dancing... Glassblowing... Authentic Chinese Feng Shui...

A friend and I decided to take basic Photography classes here - it was so inexpensive and very convenient. The teacher was so knowledgeable and helpful throughout the classes! The class was small and more personable, and there was absolutely no pressure to be the best. I looked forward to going to classes every Monday night because everyone worked and learned at their own pace. The teacher was laid back and knowledgeable about almost everything! She always made sure we were heard we received constructive criticism. I think I did better in this class than in a few creative classes in college! The only thing I was sad about was that there wasn't a dark room to use! But I definitely will be taking future classes here. They offer just about everything from wine tasting to art to cooking!

I've always wanted to learn Spanish and I've finally found an affordable and convenient place to do it! I took level 1, then 2, and I'm planning on continuing. To my experience, the quality of the class completely depends on the teacher, and I've been lucky so far! The language classes are taught by native speakers, and you can check their profile on the website before the class starts to look for the ones that have teaching experience. And the other students are just normal people of all ages! It's a great place!

If I had the money, I'd take several classes each term easily. So far I've taken an asian fusion cooking class with Walter, and a banjo class. Both have been exceptional, fun learning experiences. And the prices are super affordable! I can't wait to take more cooking classes here, especially. I'm very amazed/impressed by everything they have on offer; really rich variety in such a multitude of subjects. The instructors are knowledgeable and friendly; very enthusiastic about their specialties. As a lover of learning, I constantly check on updated course offerings and their Friday cooking series. I love this place and look forward to future educational experiences!

Great selction of classes, everything from cooking french cuisine and sampling wine to brushing up on investing and studying for the GRE. Need physical activity? Try Brazilian dance or jiu-jitsu. Definitely sign up for the ground fighting class. Rhonda is an amazing instructor and we need more women in the class. Everyone is super nice and you'll feel super strong after each class!

This is a fun place to take fun classes! Meet people-- the mix seems to be about half college-age and half ' real adults'. Take sign language with Hartmut Teuber-- he's great. Nothing like having a deaf teacher to really give you that kick you need. The classes are reasonably priced, and very well worth it!

not worth the money and time. I took some sewing classes at this center and was more like a joke really. All the teacher did was to show us how to sew by commercial patterns.... really????!!! They have a long way to go. Second level more like first class in kindergarten. Dont waist your money and learn at home.

I was very excited when my friend told me about the theater program. Although it was a long drive and hard to park area,I decided to take a risk. The center did offer a parking at a near hotel with a discount,which I thought was great! But what was the point if 2 of my classes had to be relocated since they did not have any classroom available for us!!!!ANd even worse, relocated by a generous classmate that found another room. Because the Center did not care enough to find a place for us!!! They should respect people that pays for their service !!!! At least!!!

I would take classes all the time if I had the means. Right now, I'm in Thai Cooking for Beginners with Wichian, and he's awesome. The class is full and it's really hands-on. We get to eat the great meal we've made at the end of each class, and on Saturday, we're meeting in Chinatown to see where we can actually buy the ingredients for the dishes we make! It's so fun, tasty, and educational. I love that the class has people from several countries in it. :) Tonight, I also went in and paid $5 for a two hour panel that included snacks and beer and wine. It was on Launching a Business, and had one of the founders of Taza Chocolate, the woman who owns Sweet, a freelance writer, and a young guy who founded a renewable energy company from his dorm! Courtney from Sweet also brought mini cupcakes which were yummo and very thoughtful. It was a really informative panel moderated by a lawyer who specializes in small businesses and everyone was helpful and nice. Bravo!

This is definitely a fantastic non-profit community organization. Whenever I'm picked up a course catalog, I'm always shocked at how big it is and what a wide range of classes they offer. Though I haven't taken a cooking class here yet, cooking in their recently renovated kitchen sounds amazing. The class I took here was Intro to Grant Writing. It was definitely really informative and well instructed. I also participated in a community art share that the CCAE sponsored http://ccae.org/csart/shares/ and it was really fun to get a bag of art every few months. It was definitely a crap shoot and there were a few things that I wouldn't ever really display, but overall it was fun. Not cheap though, but it does support local artists.

I took the beginners wine tasting class. Although the selection of wines chosen by the instructor were very good, in that he tried to cover as much varieties as possible in the budget he was given, I thought his style of teaching was very dry. He could've been the wine consultant for the class and someone who's more enthusiastic to teach could've been teaching the class. For instance, I'd have loved to get more printouts, resources, maybe a small textbook or reference on wines (a pocket one, to remind me of the complicated italian/french grapes), and just more TEXT. I also wanted to know little more of the economics behind wine. Rentention of material is what was poor from the class. A few mnemonics would've helped. I'd definitely suggest taking the class but you have to put your own time and resources into figureing things out. This is just a starting point to be able to recognize stuff on a wine menu. For some reason, the instructor wasn't too warm also. Like he didn't maintain an email address for teaching and wasn't too receptive to the idea of getting emailed on questions we'd want to ask. Would've helped if he maintained a website on the wines he was going to present during class. In short, let down in some ways, good in some others....

Signing up for classes was very easy. The staff have been very friendly. I am taking French classes and I love my teacher. Or rather J'Adore ma professuer de Francais. At least I think that's right. It's conveinant for me after work to get to the classes. They also offer up some great fun topics for classes, or seminars.

My spanish class experience (April to June) I agreed with my fellow classmates - please proceed the beginner / intensive or regular courses with great caution. The administration has no plan to shape our luck, the class is purely depending on the kindness and experience of the teacher. It is cheap, reasonable .... good crowd.... good location .. but the chance of having good tutor to do beginner class is rare. I heard good things about their advanced classes especially the Chinese and advanced Spanish. Honestly, the entire Spanish class was confused and slightly annoyed ..... what she was doing? .... Rushing for what ? ..... Why she needed to teach table and theory before examples ....? She finished the entire subjunctive session in less than five, ten minutes. At one point she was stopped by a very conscientious male student - "what is subjunctive? " I laughed. Another student told her that he had no idea what she was talking about, wrong algorithm, she just read a few lines from the book with little reference to his request. It embarrassed him. He gave up. He was sitting right next to me, he said, "That was ridiculous, or it was just me? " The students there were mostly 35+, any chance, this tutor thought that we Americans were very forgiving or what! I was amused by her speed and method. Tons of theory ..... A very sweet looking, young native Spanish tutor, who has little patience and very little experience. She might be good with advanced conversation students, but not for us. I am not sure whether the center knows about that or it is just their policy. It does hurt their image. It is my second time attending the first level. There is no structure. Well, we had fun, but we were not learning much. Go other place for beginner level and rejoin them for advanced class. As far as I know there will be one or two classmates taking the next level in June .... it is because they are dating. I have to say, it was a pleasant experience, but the course has no structure, no supervision from the Center's administrators, no agenda and no method. If it is true that the school is relying on transient labor or visitors with short term working visa, who are not experienced in teaching or have no passion in doing so, problems will exist. Also, the required text book is very outdated, but again, affordable; it is not a bit efficient. This was an interesting experience. I did not expect a lot, but I did not expect the type of supervision either. Don't take me wrong, she is a very nice girl, just not a very good teacher. You get what you pay for. It is very affordable. If you are serious about learning language, Cambridge center is not your place. Your time is more precious. ; (

I've taken several classes at the CCAE - cooking, computers, mind/body - and all of them have been great. They have quality instructors and a variety of fun and interesting classes to choose from. I took an HTML class over the summer and after 4 weeks, left feeling pretty confident about my new set of skills building a basic website. The instructor really took the time to explain the language and answer any questions we had. I've taken a couple cooking classes and both were a lot of fun. You also make A LOT of food, so be sure to come hungry!

I'd like to thanks CCAE for your great service. I'd like to give 5 stars for English as second language (ESL) courses. I've taken 2,3 classes, which were awesome classes. That's why I got around 97 percentage in college placement test. They provided me to many scholarships and prices also not expensive . Which helped me to admit US college, University and daily life . Thank you all of Cambridge Center for Adult Education .

If you cannot find the course you want here, it may not exist! From ESL to Bones for Life(Feldenkrais approach), to Indian cooking, to life drawing--whatever you can imagine, they probably have it on the roster. Set in the historic quaint homes on 42 Brattle Street, plus the original Blacksmith House of Longfellow fame further up on 56 Brattle(also houses an awesome Hi-Rise Bakery(sometimes known as Hi-Price Bakery, but worth it1) this institution of higher learning has been around for more than half a century. Excellent quality teaching across the subject matters--of course you have to shop for your favorite, but there are many choices of subjects and teachers. Your mind is a terrible thing to waste. Go, learn!

i wanted to plug the class i'm taking now: Acting 1: Anyone Can Act with Stan Edelson. stan is the cutest little old man ever. the class is like acting, but also learning to live more fully, and group therapy combined. stan is super supportive, open-minded and creative, and continually encourages us to challenge ourselves to let go, be more aware, and have fun with it. (in case you can't tell, i'm in love with him). like the description states, it's a great way to meet people- it's the sort of class that forces you to interact and get to know each other, and people seem to be open to hanging out outside of class if you're interested in that. the people in my class are mid-20s to mid-30s, but it just depends on who signs up. not bad for $200 for 10 3-hour classes that meet once a week. this is my first acting class and i love it. other people who have some acting experience agree he's a good teacher. you can tell he loves what he's doing. it warms my heart, and hopefully by the end, i'll be less socially-awkward. this is my first ccae class so i can't comment on the others, but the variety looks interesting.

I signed up for a beginning oil painting class for fun. I got there and the teacher, Denise, was rude. She did not make me feel welcome at all. It seemed like the 4 other students had all taken the class before it had experience. She told me "this isn't a kindergarten class." How demeaning! You also have to buy all your own painting materials and bring them to class with you. They are not included in the $236 you pay for the class. I got a refund, but they still charged me a $10 processing fee. I asked at the registration office about what qualifications the teachers have to have to work there. They said it depends, but in some cases they've just taken a couple of classes themselves and that's it. Not worth the money.

I had great experiences taking salsa class and photography class here. The tuition is very affordable, the instructors are knowledgeable, and my classmates are awesome!

I took two writing courses, with two different instructors and they were a grave disappointment. In one class the teacher would get fixated on the most irrelevant point of the story, he would purge all the art and ambiguity out of the story and when he read his own work, he showed himself to be the worst writer in the class. In the end he passed out his business card to try to elicit some business as an editor for hire so he had an ulterior motive (for which work he was sadly unqualified). The second course was a hoax. It was a woman's support group for women who want to shore each other up about the sad tales they can write about their lives. They were kind, lovely people but writing badly was as good as writing well to these ladies who have taken this very same course together for up to ten years. I'm not exaggerating. When asked for leads on what publications to submit either fiction or nonfiction, the teacher told me she had "No idea." There may be a good writing teacher at CCAE somewhere but I spent almost $600 and several weeks NOT finding one.

I have always wanted to learn ASL, so for $200 and the cost of a text book decided I could afford to take the ten week class at CCAE. You can park in the Charles hotel lot and have your parking validated at the CCAE for $5, so you don't have to worry about feeding the meter. I am very impressed with the quality of the class. I have learned a lot and enjoy going to class. The block it is on does not have many places to eat, so if your hungry come early or bring your own food. I am taking off one star for the constant loud tapping noise coming from the next classroom. It's hard to focus on learning a language when it sounds like someone is trying to chisel through the wall.

i took a digital camera/photography course here - same one twice. it was a lot of material, and i missed some classes the last time around, so i took it again, and even the classes i repeated were a joy- i got more out of them becuase i had the general knowledge tucked in well. in fact, i learned/gleaned more than i did when taking the same course at a local college, where i had to take a withdraw becuase it was simply too complicated to absorb. WARNING: this facility is grandfathered. it is hit and miss accessible. call and check before hand to find out where you class is in the buildings, and if there are any impediments you may need help with or have to forgo that particular course until it pops up in a more accessible space.