Arlington Community Education

We will explore the meteoric rise of American chattel slavery from 1619–1861 through economic, historical, legal, political, religious and scientific lenses provided in the book Four Hundred Souls. This epic one-volume “community” history of African Americans, edited by Ibram Kendi and Keisha Blain, includes essays by 90 different writers. We will apply these perspectives to increase our understanding of the current racially polarized historical moment.

In this introductory acting class we will experiment with games, improv, voice, and movement to learn basic acting skills while having fun. Each class begins with warm-up games followed by acting exercises—ranging from silly to serious—that build focus, confidence, and communication skills.

Bring your training to the next level with this class designed for more experienced parkour practitioners who have established a strong physical and technical foundation. Push yourself with parkour movements, techniques, and challenges that will increase your capabilities in a safe, supervised structure. Incorporate acrobatic elements that explore air awareness, inversion, and“flair” or style into movement. Delve further into the roots and spirit of parkour training and explore how overcoming challenges can build self-confidence and adaptability that can be applied outside of parkour. Previous parkour experience required. Prerequisite - Participants must have attended at least 1 season of PkGen Boston classes to participate.

So you’ve run a 5K—now what? You liked training for a three mile race and are ready to take your running to the next level but don’t know how? Whether you want to run a five miler, a 10K, or a half marathon and beyond, this course will teach you how to safely achieve your fitness goals. Coach Gaggi will give you a custom training program based on your running goals and check in with you weekly to keep you on track. Extra “homework” with strength exercises will be included. Most classes meet at Spy Pond. Prerequisite: For the 3 months before the start of the class, you need to have consistently run 3 times a week with at least 2-3 non-stop miles per run, totalling at least 6-9 weekly miles. If you don’t have a solid base for this course, you may get injured. Start logging your miles today!

Learn to play this fun and fascinating game that combines a Chinese set of tiles with American rules and strategy. You will need your own official 2023 National Mah Jongg League card, which can be ordered when you register. Beginner: We will cover the fundamentals of the game, progressing through familiarity with the tiles, building the wall, understanding the Charleston series of tile exchanges, and learning the hands. Strategic Play: For players who already know all the rules and can play mah jongg independently. We will cover offensive and defensive strategies, focusing on improving your ability to find the right hand, decide when to change hands, determine your opponents’ hands, and know how to thwart them. NOTE: You will need a 2024 National Mah Jongg League official card, if you don’t have one. Please select the $15 option online during registration.

Signing is a useful skill that can open up a new world of relationships and understanding. Level 1 (Absolute Beginner): Learn the ASL manual alphabet, numbers, greetings, basic signs, and ASL grammar basics. This class is for absolute beginners only. Level 2: Low Beginner: For students who have completed the Level 1 class or have similar experience with letters, numbers, and basic signs. Further increase your vocabulary and get introduced to verbs and adjectives. Level 2: High Beginner: A refresher and skill-building class for students who have taken Level 1 and have firm knowledge of basic vocabulary. Strengthen your vocabulary, speak instructor-to-student and student-to-student with full sentence work, and practice in day-to-day signing situations. Level 3: (Intermediate): For those who have completed Level 2 and want to further increase vocabulary and grammar skills. Learn more advanced vocabulary, converse in the classroom with only ASL, and learn about Deaf culture and history. Note: Students will be required to purchase a book for the class: Barron's American Sign Language: A Comprehensive Guide to ASL 1 and 2 with Online Video Practice illustrated edition

Take a thematic tour of the vast and fascinating world of Chinese history through space and time. Each session will showcase the complexity and diversity of the subject with informal lectures, discussions, and suggested readings on topics from Warring States Philosophy to Tang Poetry. Get an overview of different historical periods as well as suggestions for how to learn more about whichever things interest you the most.

Discover how apps work on your phone or iPad and learn how to make your own. In this no-experience-required course, we use MIT App Inventor software to make fun, creative apps for Android phones and tablets. We will also explore wireless communication by building custom bluetooth hardware controllers and readouts for our apps.

This course is for those who have some familiarity with Levantine Arabic. Considered one of the major varieties of Arabic, “Levantine” refers to the spoken variety of Arabic among the eastern Mediterranean coast, which includes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. More informal than Modern Standard Arabic, this dialect is used in the home, among friends, and has become the chosen language for many television series. We will discuss various everyday topics, with some focus on grammatical structures.

Originating in the 6th century, the Arabic language has become one of the most widely spoken and recognizable languages in the world today. This version of Arabic is the formal language of news, media, and books. These classes are taught by a native speaker. Level 1: This beginning level class introduces the 28 Arabic letters and focuses on basic reading and writing skills through an interactive and practical instructional method. Some basic everyday vocabulary and conversations such as greetings and courtesy expressions are also part of the course. Level 3: Expand your Arabic proficiency. This course will put your conjugation and other grammar skills to use as you learn to write more elaborate paragraphs.

Explore your many sides using mixed media art. Projects will include an “I Am” collage that reflects what is unique about you and helps you get to know your classmates, a mask that represents your inner vs. outer self, vision boards, and memory drawing. We’ll also learn about using art as a form of self-expression and practice sharing and giving feedback about each other’s work.

Can science make you a better artist or help you create your next masterpiece? Come find out in this colorful, creative week that’s all about combining science with art. We’ll make blender art by engineering our own tools to splatter paint, use chemistry to mix up a miraculous bonding liquid to mold and glue sculptured structures, explore the science of shadows as they help us draw animals, and more.

Examine artists new and old who have an interesting perspective or social justice aspect to their work. We will study their style, point of view, and contributions to the world in raising awareness, building community, and promoting change. Then you will create drawings, paintings, prints, or collages inspired by these artists.

FULL DAY: Create art focused on the natural world and your surroundings as you travel to different habitats across northeastern Massachusetts. Summit a mountain and learn tricks to create depth in your artwork, draw the animals you see in motion at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, explore the tidal pools and make 3D rock sculptures from the granite quarry remnants at Halibut Point in Rockport, and learn watercolor techniques inspired by the flow of water over the massive rock formations at Purgatory Chasm. Each day we will visit a unique and beautiful landscape and create art in different media.

Unlock your artistic potential with a week filled with vibrant colors, imaginative landscapes, and a multitude of artistic creations. Use acrylics and watercolors to create beautiful seascapes, picturesque mountain ranges, and decorative wooden frames. Craft a wide array of DIY projects such as painted wooden organizers, paper flowers and pennants, mini pinch pots, rag quilts, and balloon garlands.