Learn American Sign Language (ASL), a useful skill that can open up a new world of relationships and deeper understanding. These classes utilize a groundbreaking curriculum crafted by deaf ASL teachers. You’ll learn more than just signs—you’ll engage in real-world conversation. Level 1 (Beginner): In this in-person class for absolute beginners only, learn the ASL manual “alphabet” and hand shapes, basic grammar structure, and fingerspelling techniques. Explore the history of ASL while we cover pronouns, articles, numbers, yes/no questions, farewell rituals, introductions, and more. Level 2 (High Beginner): Further increase your vocabulary and get introduced to verb tenses in this in-person class for students who have completed Level 1. Learn how to engage in conversation about personal life events, family dynamics, friendships, and pets, as well as how to describe appearances and name North American cities, states, and provinces. Level 3 (Intermediate): This class is for students who have completed Level 2. Refine your skills as we cover more complex topics, including numeral incorporation, telling time, expressing frequency, daily routines, holidays and cultural observances, vacations, hobbies, and more. Note: For all levels students will be required to purchase this text book: Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language

Levantine Arabic is one of the major spoken varieties of Arabic used along the eastern Mediterranean coast. More informal than Modern Standard Arabic, this dialect is commonly spoken at home, among friends, and in popular television series. Level 1: For those with knowledge of the Arabic alphabet, we will cover basic conversations related to greetings, nationalities, colors, food, and more. Prerequisite for Level 1: Knowledge of the Arabic Alphabets Level 4: For those with prior experience in Levantine Arabic. Expand your vocabulary, improve fluency, and explore more complex sentence structures through discussions on a variety of everyday topics.

Level 1: Arabic, originating in the 6th century, is now one of the world’s most widely spoken and recognized languages. Modern Standard Arabic serves as the formal language of news, media, and literature. This beginner class introduces the 28 Arabic letters and builds foundational reading and writing skills through interactive, practical instruction. You’ll also learn everyday vocabulary and simple conversational phrases, including greetings and polite expressions.

Prepare for the 128-question U.S. citizenship test. Gain a deeper understanding of how the government works and of your rights and responsibilities as a citizen. Review the answers to the civics and history questions, strengthen your English skills (if applicable), and build the confidence you need to pass the exam. Important: Requirements to apply for citizenship are a green card for five years (or married to an American citizen and green card for three years) and intermediate level English.

Winter Term Registration is Closed. Registration opens February 24 for Spring Term. Learn English and build your speaking and writing confidence. ACE is pleased to fully fund these classes for those who live or work in Arlington. The daytime class is co-sponsored by the Robbins Library. Level 1 (Low Beginner): For beginner-level students with little to no knowledge of the English language. Learn the alphabet, numbers, pronouns, be verbs (am, is, are), and basic verbs and adjectives, as well as everyday vocabulary and simple conversation phrases. Level 2 (High Beginner): For students who have taken the Level 1 course or for students who are familiar with the grammar concepts taught in the Level 1 course. Learn simple present, past, and future tenses and strengthen conversation skills. Level 3 (Low Intermediate): For students who have taken the Level 2 course or who are familiar with those grammar concepts. Build your confidence, improve your speaking skills, and learn more advanced grammar including modals (e.g., must, should), adverbs of frequency, first and second conditionals, and comparative and superlative adjectives. Level 4 (High Intermediate): For students who have completed ACE Level 3 or are familiar with its grammar concepts. Practice communicating on a wider range of topics with greater accuracy and fluency while learning advanced grammar, including passive voice, third conditionals, and future forms. Please note: Priority goes to Arlington residents. Register for one session only. If you live outside of Arlington, please add yourself to our “non-resident waitlist” class and we will contact you if we have space. Attendance Policy: Limited to one class per person per term. Students are expected to attend regularly. If you have to miss a class, you must notify the instructor in advance. Students who do not show up for the first class without notifying the instructor will be removed from the roster and will not be allowed to register for the following term. Students who miss more than three classes in a term will not be allowed to register for the following term.

Discuss, laugh, and be inspired as we explore the lives of Bostonians whose ideas and actions have shaped the world. We’ll share stories of influential artists, scientists, writers, chefs, and even two 19th-century women bicyclists. Designed for high intermediate and advanced English learners, the group will help you build vocabulary and speaking skills while deepening your appreciation of Boston. Two field trips will be planned with input from participants.

IMPORTANT! This page is informational only. To officially register, go here: These daytime and evening conversation groups are for adult learners at an intermediate or higher level of English who want to practice speaking and listening. A new term begins in September. Visit EnglishAtLarge.org and click on the button that says Interested in Fall Conversation Groups. You will be contacted when registration officially opens.

Enhance your spoken French and expand your vocabulary in a relaxed, engaging conversation group. Weekly in-person sessions will explore French travel, art, cuisine, and history, along with topics the group chooses. Designed for students ready for a full-immersion experience.

Whether your goal is to speak to Israelis, read the Hebrew Bible in its original language, or follow along at synagogue services, these courses will provide you with a solid foundation in this unique language. Classes are conducted in English with a focus on biblical texts and grammar. Expect lively discussions and optional weekly homework assignments. Both levels will enjoy Hebrew and Israeli music. Level 3C: For students who know 100+ Hebrew words, can conjugate simple verbs in the past and future tenses, can compose a simple Hebrew sentence, are familiar with Hebrew demonstratives and adjectives, or who have already taken Level 3B. Please note: This class will focus on chapters 15–16 of the textbook.“ Level 6: “.This class will focus on Chapters 25-27 of the textbook. Level 6: Discover the inner elegance of Hebrew grammar and become your own translator. We will focus on Biblical and prayerbook Hebrew, using examples drawn from the Bible, the Hebrew prayer book, fairy tales rendered in Biblical Hebrew, and a short story in Modern Hebrew. You should be familiar with Hebrew verbs in the past, future, and present tenses in binyan Pa'al, binyan Pi'el and binyan Hif’il. Please note: Once the class reaches minimum enrollment, this text will be required for class The First Hebrew Primer: The Adult Beginner's Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition 3rd Edition (if you don't already have it).

Please note: This class will be held Online. Into Korean dramas, food, or K-pop? Learn how to speak Korean. Start with Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, and build up to simple conversations using essential grammar and vocabulary. Level 1: Take your first steps into speaking Korean. Designed for complete beginners, the focus is on speaking and listening through everyday situations and cultural context. Level 2: For those who have taken Level 1 or who have a bit of experience. Continue building your skills, whether you’re planning a trip, connecting with Korean friends, or just curious about the language and culture of Korea. Please note: Students should purchase/borrow this textbook for the class: Integrated Korean: Beginning 1, Third Edition Please don’t purchase until we confirm the class has enough students to run.

Get a gentle introduction to Mandarin Chinese, whether you’re looking to explore a new language, connect with Mandarin-speaking friends and family, or simply keep your mind active. Level 1: Designed for complete beginners, this class introduces foundational Mandarin skills and emphasizes speaking and listening in everyday situations. We’ll cover basic vocabulary, essential phrases, and simple sentence structures, making learning both fun and accessible. Level 2: For those who have completed Level 1 or have some prior knowledge of Mandarin. Continue developing your skills to engage in simple conversations and gain confidence using Mandarin in real-life contexts.

Brazilian Portuguese is a vibrant language shaped by African, Indigenous, and European influences. One of the largest Brazilian communities outside of Brazil is located right here in the Greater Boston area. Level 1: Learn simple phrases, greetings, and the basic structure of the language while also exploring Brazil’s fascinating history, traditions, and culture. This course will provide the foundation to engage in everyday conversations and connect with the local community. Level 2: Strengthen your pronunciation, expand your vocabulary, and deepen your grasp of grammar. Practice forming more complex sentences, conjugating regular and irregular verbs, and using possessives with confidence. Gain the skills to communicate more naturally in everyday interactions. Até logo! Level 3/4: In this combined class, continue advancing your skills as you explore more nuanced grammar and expand your conversational range. Build on verbal phrases, comparatives and superlatives, additional pronouns, and irregular verb forms with expanded vocabulary and -ar, -er, and -ir conjugations. We’ll cover practical topics, conversational tenses, and enjoy group activities to reinforce pronunciation and conversational skills.

Spanish is the most widely spoken Romance language in the world, with more than 480 million native speakers. Level 1: Learn beginning Spanish in a dynamic environment. Through engaging activities, you’ll practice the alphabet, numbers, greetings, gender agreement, simple present tense of regular verbs, basic vocabulary, and more. Designed for those with little to no experience. Level 2: For those who have completed Level 1 or equivalent, continue building conversation skills and explore new grammar concepts. Topics include ordinal numbers, simple present tense of irregular verbs, expressing likes and dislikes, travel phrases, ordering food, and giving directions. Level 3/4: You should already be comfortable with the present tense of regular and irregular verbs and the basic differences between ser and estar. Build confidence with more advanced grammar and verb forms, including reflexive verbs and expressing time, dates, and weather. Begin mastering the past preterite tense. For those comfortable describing surroundings in simple terms and familiar with present and past tense.

These convivial classes are taught by a native speaker and offer conversation and culture for those who want to refresh their Spanish, take it to the next level, or just miss speaking the language. Improve your spoken Spanish and vocabulary on a variety of topics, including art, literature, music, cuisine, travel, and current events. Intermediate: Students should have knowledge of the preterite, the past imperfect, and the future tense to join this class. We will review these as well as other grammatical structures, such as the conditional, the imperative, and the present subjunctive. Advanced: For students comfortable with an immersion (Spanish-only) experience. We will work with advanced topics that stimulate deeper conversations and debate and challenge us to further increase our vocabulary.