Arlington Community Education

Stretches alone won’t eliminate your neck aches and pains. The neck muscles and tissues need to be strengthened to support the load of the head and better your posture. We will use therapy balls, blocks, straps, and the wall among other props to do exercises and sequences to bring awareness and strengthen neck muscles and shoulder joints, and rewire the load we place in our tissues around the area. Many exercises will be supine, some sitting, and others standing. Open to anyone and everyone who wants to learn how to decompress, relax, and apply easy techniques to feel better in one of the areas where we hold the most tension. All mobility/fitness levels are welcome. Tuesday, Feb. 6 | 6:30–7:45 pm | Gibbs | $25 Please note: Students must bring the following to class: Yoga mat Yoga belt/long strap/belt Theraband/resistance band Tennis ball/therapy ball Yoga bolster or firm cushion

Get an introduction to the fascinating world of glorious Renaissance music masterpieces. We will listen to gorgeous melodies, brilliant harmonies, delight in illuminated manuscripts, and consider works by composers like Thomas Tallis, Josquin des Prez, John Dowland, and Johannes Ockeghem.

Learn to brew a perfect cup of tea, while sampling at least eight distinctive varieties, from China, India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Japan, and other producers of fine teas. Partake of sweet and savory snacks and fresh-brewed teas, while discussing the history and influences of the world’s most-popular beverage. Indeed, tea has played a key role throughout history in artisanry, trade, technology, culture, and politics. Please note: Bring one or two of your favorite cups or mugs.

Do you love acting or want to learn how? Join a fun-loving group of newcomers and returning actors. We’ll play around with acting exercises and perform short scenes for each other in a supportive and welcoming environment. Get to meet the local playwrights who wrote some of the scenes we’ll perform and help bring their vision to life.All new material each term.

Learn how to ease tension, increase circulation, and relieve pain with simple massage techniques you can do on yourself. We’ll use our own hands, fingers, elbows, and household items like tennis balls to treat ourselves to effective massages. Discover how to activate energy meridians, stimulate the lymphatic system, and use acupressure points to reduce pain, decrease stress, and bring greater harmony to your body. Through demonstration, practice time, and plenty of opportunities to ask questions, you’ll start to notice the benefits of this practice in no time.

This American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED course trains participants to provide first aid, CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner. Expect to learn about adult and child CPR and AED use, infant CPR, first aid basics including choking, medical emergencies, injury emergencies, environmental emergencies, preventing illness and injury, and opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies. This intensive three-hour course is for anyone with little or no medical training. Participants will be emailed a course completion card, valid for two years. Educators and students can register at a reduced rate. Please register first and then email us within 24 hours and we will refund you for the amount.

Use your metalsmithing skills to make a beautiful pendant in this three-week project workshop. You will pierce your design with a jeweler’s saw, texture it with hammers, and embellish it with a cabochon. Perfect your saw skills and set a stone in a bezel setting to complete your stunning pendant. This class is for students who have taken any of the intro silversmithing classes with ACE. Please bring a cabochon or 2 to class and your reading glasses.

We are in a Golden Age of whisk(e)y. Distilleries around the globe are making better options and more varieties than ever before, mastering old-world techniques while innovating with new approaches. Join us for a fun, relaxing evening as we taste some of the most exciting whiskies available today and get to the bottom of whisky vs. whiskey. Together, we will sample an amazing range of bourbons, ryes, scotches, and more. Highlights include a coastal scotch that brings the freshness of the sea to the glass, a new bourbon that is taking the market by storm, and a blended scotch that rivals some of the best single malts you have tried. Come with an open mind and find a new favorite! Please note: Price was listed incorrectly in the print catalog.

Boston pioneered the Abolitionist movement to destroy the institution of slavery in America. While often facing prejudice equal to any in the South, men and women of color in this city have long been at the forefront of the fight for equal rights. From Crispus Attucks to Frederick Douglass, black citizens of Boston have fought tooth and nail for freedom. From Phyllis Wheatley to slaves whose names are only now being rediscovered and recognized, the unsung heroes can often be the most profound. Meet the men and women, black and white, who helped fight inequity in the British empire, and continued the fight that has led to today’s America. Ages 8+

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. Advanced Beginner: For players who already know the basics of how to play and want to develop skills and confidence, or just need a refresher. We will focus on choosing a hand, keeping your options open, and refining aspects of the rules. Gain speed and mastery as you improve your knowledge of the game. Students need a 2023 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: Section A (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. Section B (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

Learn about paper-cut art and how this bold, intricate technique is used in the work of illustrator, graphic designer, professor—and ACE cover artist—Peter O Zierlein. “I draw with a knife,” he says about his technique of cutting organic, round, angular, and sharp forms into folded paper that he uses as a starting point for illustration, graphic design, pattern design, stencil design, and installations. Peter will discuss the broad history and the practice of paper-cut art; its use in cultural and religious contexts; and myriad ways he uses the medium to create fine art prints, posters, patterns for wallpaper and textiles, murals, sculptures, plywood boats, and more. His client list includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian; German publications Berliner Zeitung, Stern, and Spiegel; and other national and international newspapers and magazines.

Enjoy an evening of cooking and culture as we prepare a simple evening meal together. Come prepared to be transported to another world as we fry, sauté, roll and stir a variety of ingredients. Dishes may include: Batata vada (deep-fried mashed potato fritters) served with date chutney, eggplant masala (eggplant curry cooked the Mughlai way with onion, tomatoes, spices and cream), masoor dal (red lentils), and carrot and green pepper pulao (rice cooked with vegetables and mild spices). This class is a mix of demonstration and hands-on cooking.

Are you thinking about buying an electric car, but concerned about charging, range, or anything else? We’ll talk through the ins-and-outs of EVs and PHEVs (and teach you the difference!), so that you can make an informed choice about which kind of car would work well with your driving habits. You’ll learn about the different manufacturers, charging options, and financial incentives too. This program is part of our Think Globally, Act Locally series. All proceeds from these events go toward the ACE Scholarship fund to help make our classes accessible to all Arlington residents.

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.

Visit five “off-the-beaten-track” museums in our local area. We’ll tour an intriguing variety of historic, artistic, and educational venues. Each week we’ll take a docent-led tour that will add a new dimension to our museum-going experience. Discover more about where we live through these museums and what they tell us about our place in history. Museum admission not included.

Join us for this information-packed lecture/demonstration and build confidence in your ability to diagnose car problems and communicate with auto repair professionals. Get a general overview of major systems of an automobile from an experienced mechanic and instructor who can make all things automotive both fun and clear. We will cover basic maintenance; discuss common problems; and troubleshoot ignition, charging, cooling, fluids, electrical, brakes, and exhaust systems.

Discover the satisfaction of baking your own Italian cookies and bring home a box of sweet treats that will rival what you can buy in the North End. Together, we’ll make a variety of classic Italian cookies: crispy, dunkable twice-baked biscotti; soft and pillowy ricotta cookies; crunchy and fragrant sesame cookies; amaretti cookies bursting with almond flavor; and rustic, buttery Venetian currant and cornmeal cookies. Please note: Price was incorrect in the Highlights section of the print catalog.

Enjoy some of ballroom’s most popular social dances. Whether you want to float like Fred and Ginger or put a little sexy hip action into those Latin dances, come join in the dancing fun. Couples and singles welcome. Beginning: We will break down the basics of footwork, musicality, and partnering in swing, salsa, rumba, and more. Two left feet? No rhythm? No problem! Once you learn the basic steps, you’ll be able to spice up any dance floor you step on. Continuing: Ready to move past the basics? We will cover a variety of moves like crossovers, turns, and combinations to up your dance game. We will also dive into more styling and technique, to give you a more polished look. Please note: If attending as a couple, both dancers must register individually. Ages 18+