Asian Language Exchange and Social Network

I think the CONCEPT of ALESN is great… I’m a big fan of the sharing economy and of volunteerism, which I also do. But the Mandarin one class was a combination of Asians already familiar with other dialects, people who were taking the class for the third time, and then rank beginners like me. That said, the pace of the class was painfully slow. The instructor taught strictly from the textbook, never a good sign (he was not a native speaker). Some of my classmates found useful online tools and we shared them with each other, which was helpful. It’s really hard to run an instructional program that is entirely volunteer based… I believe that teaching is a profession, not a hobby.

Took a wonderful free class in Cantonese with Brendan as the instructor. Wonderfully helpful, and gave a really great perspective on as a non-​native speaker to the class.

Took 1 class mandarin I
Teacher was american white but really good accent
Class was slow for me as i already has some basic knowledge
No homework
Very laid back
Not intense
Good for beginers
But maybe not so great for someone who seriously wants to learn
Will go the mandarin II to see how it is…

As others pointed out, ALESN’s courses are free, so that’s a major plus. Me and my fiancée have taken introductory Mandarin and Cantonese courses there, and there are both native and non-​native speakers who are teachers there, each of which contribute unique strengths — the native speakers obviously speak it correctly, but the non-​native speakers speak very well too, and know how to teach these difficult languages to fellow non-​native speakers.
There are also other fun courses me and my fiancée have taken there, such as the martial arts courses and dancing courses. All in all, you get more than what you pay for — which, again, is nothing.

A few years ago I decided to learn Cantonese. I spoke Mandarin but living in Chinatown you realize pretty quick how many people speak Cantonese, not Mandarin, as their first language. (Plus I was really attracted to those wacky sounds.) So I googled around a bit for classes and came upon this thing called ALESN — it was one of the few places actually offering classes in this cool but little-​studied language. And better yet, it was totally free. So I took a class and loved it. And as with the workout group I belong to (The Rise NYC), there’s an awesome community spirit inherit in being a part of a free and volunteer-​run group.
So ALESN and I kept in touch after class, as it were, and I stayed on the email list.
Last year, after a bit of a hiatus from the group, I got an email about a dragon boat race. So I nervously showed up to the first practice and thus began a brilliant series of weekends out in Flushing Meadows where, grueling Sunday after grueling Sunday, we heaved and hoed our way to dragon boat glory on the sunny Meadow Lake. Though we didn’t do particularly well on race day, we had an awesome time and by the end of the season I was tearing up at the thought that our season was coming to a close. This was a group I wanted to stay in touch with.
So I asked Tony about teaching, and now I volunteer here teaching Mandarin! It’s an awesome group of students and people are really interested in learning whatever they’re studying, whether that’s Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, salsa, kung fu, fencing, or ukulele. But it’s the random social outings — dim sum, karaōke, even dragon boat dancing at Lincoln Center — that really make the group more than just a place to learn languages, but instead an awesome way to have fun and meet new people.

I have attended ALESN classes on and off for the past four years and have really loved them. It has been the only place I’ve found in Manhattan that provides a friendly, warm, and immersive language learning environment for free. The language classes (as well as the free martial arts and dance courses) have been fun and really educational. I’m excited to join up again next year when my schedule permits, and I recommend anyone who is interested in learning a new language and meeting fun new people to check it out!

I have been studying Chinese over the past 3 years on my own and I must say I have improved so much by attending these classes. The teachers are very good and my follow students are a great bunch. Also I appreciate the classes free and all I have to pay is the cost of the text book.

This is the best school by far in all the boroughs the instructors really know there craft and are always willing to help new/​current and past students at all times. Thank you all for always helping

I feel so lucky to have found ALESN! It’s incredibly generous of them to provide free language classes and good ones at that. My Cantonese 1 instructor Brendan has a real love for the language and it shows. He makes what can be a really daunting language come alive in real and everyday terms. Plus it’s right next to one of the best noodle places in Chinatown (big ups Spicy Village!) so you can’t go wrong!

First of all, classes are free, which are hundreds or thousands of dollars at other schools. So — this is an automatic plus. I took Cantonese class as I work in a company that is mostly Chinese employees from Hong Kong or the Canton region of China, and it has given me the basics of tones, some key phrases, and more of an ear. I can now hear the difference between various Chinese dialects and some of the outings were very worthwhile. I ended up buying a bunch of movies on a field trip that I still watch with subtitles in Cantonese and Mando.
It should be noted that this organization is completely volunteer run. It is run out of a local school, and the classes have a very diverse student body — younger, older, all races and backgrounds. The teacher Brendan was very good. He is laid back but devoted. For me, even though I speak French and English, I found Cantonese to be a really tough language. To remember tones, I had to make up songs from the way words sounded and practiced on the way home from class — I still remember the phrases. I realize now I might have benefitted from some added private teaching as I ended up falling a bit behind 2^nd semester, didn’t ever quite grasp the grammar structure, and couldn’t really catch up. For serious students, but also for people like me, who wanted to try and even if I was unable to complete the study, I really benefitted from the classroom experience, met interesting people, and the group has really committed volunteer teachers.
It beats going to overpriced schools to learn essentially the same thing, and if you need to supplement, they recommend tutors.
When I go back to a classroom experience, I will return and repeat Cantonese at ALESEN and recommend it to everyone who talks about their interest in learning. Also, anyone who attends these classes should truly consider a donation to ALESN.
I give it 2 thumbs up.

Amazing teachers, amazing program.
You will love it.

Exchange: giving and receiving goods or services of (more or less) equal value
That’s the opportunity that ALESN offers, for learners, teachers and engaged humans. If it were strictly a «school,» especially one of the expensive ones, I’d probably give it a mere four stars. What it is, in my view, is a really cool and unique network of well-​coordinated meetups, in a classroom setting, where participants can regularly sit down with a very diverse group of people with a mutual interest in increasing their skills and knowledge in one or more languages or other cultural pursuit. It’s free and learners go at their own pace. Many of the teachers are not seasoned educators but rather highly intelligent, disarmingly enthusiastic and generally fascinating individuals who inspire you to come to class every week just to…
Full disclosure time: I’m one of the teachers.
But I started out as a student and had such a great experience that, one year later, I volunteered to guide others in how to develop a skill I have been pursuing for several years.
The classes offer change every year, mostly according to the availability of volunteer teachers. The core seems to be the spoken Mandarin and Cantonese and written Chinese intro classes. The martial arts and Salsa dance seem to be mainstays. The website and e-​newsletter are your source for that information.
If someone told me they needed to reach a high level of language in a short period of time, I probably would recommend they drop a lot of coin on another program and prepare themselves to drill and practice until their head is throbbing. But in my view, the reason so many people give up learning languages, or any adult learning, and declare themselves «fundamentally unable» is because they overreach and overspend.
Success at ALESN is based on self-​pacing. People come back until they learn. Even if they never do any homework, they come back. They might take Level 1 three times. You can do this because it doesn’t cost much (you have to buy your own textbook, donations are accepted) so the stress and pressure isn’t there. And it’s a particularly social group, a lot of people form friendships or at least go out in big groups for post-​class noodles from time to time. And eventually, even the least committed, least «natural» student, improves their skills and has fun getting there. And the self-​motivated students, the so-​called «naturals,» have access to all kinds of really valuable guidance AND get to be play teacher’s pet once a week. What’s not to love?
My biggest problem with the organization is how to pronounce the acronym:
A) «A Lee Son» (as in an American born 2^nd generation Chinese child who is brushing up on their parents’ first language)
B) «A Lesson» (to me the obvious choice — can apply to all the diverse learning they promote)
C) «Allison» (…I know this world is killing you… My Aim is true)
Why is the consensus choice C? Why?

Asian Language Exchange and Social Network is run by a group of talented people who are kind enough to donate their time, energy, talent and money to teach us a variety of free classes during the entire week, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, dance, music and martial arts! I feel lucky to have found them and cannot praise enough their dedication, helpfulness and good humor. The atmosphere in class is fun and relaxed offering several methods – book, video and conversation.

I really enjoy the classes from the Asian Language Exchange and Social Network. I myself am the volunteer, teacher, and student. I can’t say enough how grateful I am to find the program. Did you know that the program offers Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese classes from the beginner level to the advanced level which are COMPLETELY FREE? In New York, it is really unheard of finding anything free, not to mention language courses. On top of that, all the teachers are professional and really have a passion to teach languages and share the Asian languages & cultures with students.
I hold two Master’s degrees in Communication and MBA with more than 10 years of experiences in teaching Mandarin & Cantonese. Many of our teachers are NYU or Ivy league graduates majoring in Asian language teaching and international businesses. It is our passion that we decided to volunteer our time for the program. The program also offers different styles of Asian martial art classes, yoga, meditation, and even culinary classes. Our program directors, volunteers, & students are great people. I really feel that ALESN is a great community with camaraderie among members like a family. I hope you do too. Asian languages & cultural program like this in New York City is really a needle in a haystack. Just because it is free, it doesn’t mean it is not good. Come, check out the classes, and decide yourself. :)

The staff is approachable and always willing to reach out a helping hand if you need extra assistance.
I’ve taken Cantonese 3 and Mandarin 4. My only expectation was that i thought it’d’ve been a bit more challenging since those were the highest levels they offered but it’s FREE, so no complaints.
You have nothing to lose, always worth a try.

Amazing staff and students! The courses are all free so take as many as you like! The mandarin classes are held in one hour time slots back to back. I know a lot if students who come and sit in on all three of the mandarin classes on Saturdays!
If you buy the book I recommend the ebook version! No waiting time and it’s cheaper!

AMAZING free classes for those who would like to learn Chinese/​improve their Chinese. Tony and Lily are great teachers who volunteer their time to teach Cantonese and Mandarin. The program also offers Japanese which is great!
Other workshops are available as well. Going to ALESN also gives me an excuse to visit Prosperity Dumpling (a little too often!!)
Do not hesitate to join if you are considering. You have nothing to lose. Also a great way to meet young professionals and language students of ALL ages.

The ALESN program is fantastic. The program is run by volunteers and the teachers do their best to make the chinese learning experience positive. I think you’ll get the most out of the program if you know the basic grammar rules /​pinyin. That said, ALESN has three levels of classes so that you can choose the class that best fits you.

A volunteer language program for adults to learn Cantonese, Mandarin, or any other Chinese and Asian languages for FREE. Asian Language Exchange and Social Network (ALESN) offer boatloads of fun selected activities as Chinese Chess, selected workshops as Japanese origami, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Mahjong upon demand. Since it is entirely volunteer run, this program inhabits unlicensed instructors in accord to NYS and NYC Department of Education standards. Unaccredited without proper rendering support of affiliating with any reputable Asian association, unlicensed, non-​certified nor recognized by NYS Department of Education or NYC Board of Education, thereby unable to produce a quality learning environment with substantial results.
With this program I am able to learn both Cantonese and Mandarin and apply it to daily life when ordering food in a restaurant setting, and conversing in both professional and social settings.
N.B. Students are a direct target to be the subject of instructors’ vulgar ridicule of derisive jeers from ill mockeries! It is a dog eats dog facilitate volunteer program eating muck.