Arlington Community Education

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: Note: 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, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. More informal than Modern Standard Arabic, this dialect is commonly spoken at home, among friends, and in popular television series. It’s also one of the most widely understood spoken forms across the Arabic-speaking world. Level 1: For students who have completed Arabic: Modern Standard Level 1. Begin learning Levantine pronunciation, vocabulary, and basic conversational phrases for everyday situations. Level 4: For students with some prior experience in Levantine Arabic. Expand your vocabulary, improve fluency, and explore more complex sentence structures through discussions on a variety of everyday topics.

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 US Citizenship test. Learn how the government works, understand your rights and responsibilities as a citizen, learn the answers to all of the questions on the civics and history portion of the test, improve your English, and prepare 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.

Learn English and build your speaking and writing confidence. ACE is pleased to fully fund these classes for Arlington residents. 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. 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.

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.

Join one or both of these lively French book group sessions, where you’ll explore works of French literature with fellow fluent speakers, sparking thoughtful discussion and sharpening your language skills. Encore Ernaux! Read and discuss Passion Simple, the acclaimed 1991 novel by Nobel Prize laureate Annie Ernaux. This bestseller has been praised for its emotional depth and unflinching portrayal of desire. Mystère, Adultère, Cimetière : Il ne Faut pas Juger sur les Apparences Read and discuss Maigret se Trompe, Belgian author Georges Simenon’s 1953 detective novel featuring his iconic inspector—a compelling tale of mystery and mistaken assumptions.

Lay the foundation to become a confident French speaker. Learn pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and verbs with a focus on describing the world around you. Level 1: Learn basic vocabulary, present-tense verbs, and useful everyday words and phrases. Part of each class will be spent practicing oral dialogue to gain comfort in speaking. Level 2: Focus on improving conversational precision by developing vocabulary and learning present and immediate future tenses. Practice oral dialogue and learn common and irregular verbs, possessive and demonstrative adjectives, comparatives and superlatives, and imperatives. Level 4: Refine your use of passé composé and the imperfect tense, and incorporate object pronouns and adverbs in both simple and compound forms. Continue to develop listening, speaking, and reading skills while exploring aspects of French culture and history.

Bonjour! Join this welcoming and lively French conversation class led by an enthusiastic near-native speaker. This is your chance to learn, practice, and improve your conversational French in a relaxed, fun, yet structured setting. For those who have taken French: Levels 1–3 and/or have strong skills in speaking and listening. We will review advanced grammar topics, including object pronouns, compound tenses, and subjunctive, with assignments to practice your skills throughout the week.

Learn to speak and think in Deutsch (German), the language of Thomas Mann, Goethe, Rilke, Brecht, and Remarque. Los geht’s! Level 1: Learn the basics of German grammar and vocabulary to prepare for basic conversation auf Deutsch. Get a feel for the rhythm, sound, and structure of the language. Level 2: Build on your skills through interactive exploration of German literature and culture. With a focus on listening, reading, and speaking, this class is for those who have completed Level 1 or the equivalent.

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 help you get started with a solid foundation in this unique language. Expect lively class discussions and optional weekly homework assignments. All levels will enjoy Hebrew and Israeli music. Level 3A: For students who can read the Hebrew alphabet, know 75+ words of vocabulary, can conjugate simple verbs in the past and future tenses, can compose a simple Hebrew sentence, or who have already taken Level 2D. 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, a short story in Modern Hebrew, and text from Israeli news. You should be familiar with Hebrew verbs in the past, future, and present tenses in Binyan Pa'al and Binyan Pi'el. This class will start with Chapter 23 of the textbook, with Binyan Pi'el.] Planned no class dates 11/17, 11/19 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).

Buongiorno! Are you ready to learn Italian in a fun and interesting way? Through conversation about everyday life, we will learn vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar as we explore Italian culture and la dolce vita. Gain a solid knowledge of the language of music and love. Level 1: Get introduced to basic grammar topics including pronunciation, personal pronouns, indefinite and definite articles, singular and plural forms of nouns and adjectives, gender, and number agreement. Learn to describe everyday activities using the present tense of regular and irregular verbs. Level 2: Work on improving spoken Italian, mastering reflexive verbs, past tense of regular and irregular verbs, and possessive adjectives. Level 3: Further hone oral comprehension and expression of topics including travel, health, and time. We will also focus on imperfect tense, distinctive pronouns, simple future tense, and double object pronouns.

Into Korean dramas, food, or K-pop? This welcoming class will help you take your first steps into speaking Korean. Start with Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, and build up to simple conversations using essential grammar and vocabulary. Designed for complete beginners, the focus is on speaking and listening through everyday situations and cultural context. Whether you’re planning a trip, connecting with Korean friends, or just curious, this class will give you a solid foundation in language and culture.

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. The focus will be on practical language skills that you can use in everyday conversations. We’ll cover basic vocabulary, essential phrases, and simple sentence structures, making learning both fun and accessible. No prior knowledge of Mandarin is required.

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 1B: 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 2: Continue advancing your skills as you explore more nuanced grammar and expand your conversational range. Learn to use verbal phrases, comparatives and superlatives, additional pronouns, and irregular verb forms. We’ll cover practical topics like handling currency using real Brazilian money and enrich your learning through music, art, regional culture, and interactive language games.

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: 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. Level 4: Advance grammar with the imperfect and preterite tenses, pronouns, familiar commands, adverbs, and the uses of se, por, and para. 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.